Bear Activity Summary: Bears have been active in all corners of Yosemite National Park from the Valley floor to the high Sierra. As we move into mating season, mother bears kick their yearling cubs out and those yearling bears are on their own for the first time. These young and newly independent bears are very vulnerable to people getting too close to them. If these bears lose their fear of people or obtain human food, they will never have the opportunity to live a long and wild life. In the last week, a yearling bear obtained two picnics left out on beaches while visitors went swimming and then bluff charged a group.
Fascinating Bear Facts: Black bears weigh less than a pound when they are born, usually in February in the Sierra Nevada.
Red Bear, Dead Bear: Five 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: With the warmer weather, snakes have been much more active in Yosemite Valley. Northern Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus) are the only venomous pit viper found in Yosemite National Park.
Please report bear incidents and sightings:
Call the Save-A-Bear Hotline at 209-372-0322 or e-mail yose_bear_mgmt@nps.gov.