Yosemite Bears

While bear incidents are up this year in Yosemite, they are still far from where they were back in the 1990s. Keep your food in a bear locker at all times, please!

2026 Total Bear Incidents: 5 incidents

2026 Total Property Damage: $4,068

Bear Activity Summary: Recently, bears obtained human food from multiple campsites in the Hodgdon Meadow Campground when visitors were too far from their food or backed away from an approaching bear. Several unsecured residential structures also were also damaged by bears in this area. Property damage by bears is 316% higher than this time last year. In other areas of the park, there have been several reports of people surrounding female bears with cubs on the Valley floor. How can we protect bears? Lock and latch windows and doors of buildings not in use. Store your food and trash. Stay 50 yards (minimum) away from bears.

Fascinating Bear Facts: Black bear cubs stay with their mom for one full year. When they separate from her in the early summer, the year after they are born, they are now on their own and called “yearlings”.

Red Bear, Dead Bear: Three bears have been hit by vehicles so far this year. Twenty-eight bears were struck by vehicles in 2025, with 6 of them being confirmed dead by Yosemite staff.

Other Wildlife: A mountain lion was seen in the Rancheria Housing area in El Portal on May 18th.

Please report bear incidents and sightings: Call the Save-A-Bear Hotline at 209-372-0322 or e-mail yose_bear_mgmt@nps.gov. For more information about Yosemite’s bears, please visit: www.KeepBearsWild.org (YOSE Bear Management)