Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Grizzlies eat a varied diet. When emerging from their winter dens, they find winter-killed
carrion and newborn elk calves, supplemented with grasses and sedges. In early summer they
fish in trout spawning streams, and throughout the summer, they eat various plants, small
mammals, and insects, especially ants and army cutworm moths. In late summer and fall, they
raid squirrels' middens full of whitebark pine nuts and feast on berries, when available. Black
bears' diet is similar, except they do not dig for roots and tubers as the grizzlies do.
By mid November, the bears are hibernating in their winter dens. Although mating occurs
in June and July, the fertilized egg is not implanted in the sow's uterus until after denning. This
delayed implantation is a characteristic bears share with several of the park's smaller mam-
mals, such as river otters and badgers. Grizzly cubs are born in the den in January or February
and black bear cubs a month or two later. In the wild, bears live about 15 to 20 years.
Hikers should be aware that bears might be near the trails. Never approach a bear closer
than 100 yards (90 m), do not hike alone, and make some noise as you go in order to let them
know you're there. Bears don't like to be surprised! Human-bear encounters have increased
in recent years, and backcountry hikers are advised to carry and know how to use bear spray.
Overnight hikers must obtain a permit and follow the park regulations for making camp and
securing food.
In and near Yellowstone Park in over 140 years there have been fourteen bear-caused fatal-
ities (two of which cannot be confirmed). Sensational media publicity when a bear has killed
a human makes it seem that there have been more.
Where Are All the Bears Now?
This is a question rangers must hear several times a day, since for at least 50 years, you
were guaranteed the opportunity to see black bears along the roads and grizzly bears at the
hotel garbage dumps. This situation led to lots of interaction between people and bears,
and bears injured nearly 50 people each year.
In response to the problems with bears and concern about the possible extinction of
the grizzly bear, the park changed its policies. The park expanded education about bear
behavior, began using bear-resistant garbage cans, and strongly cautioned visitors against
feeding bears or leaving unsecured food at their campsites. The most efficacious action,
however, was to close all open-pit garbage dumps in or near the park. Bear Management
and manage the people rather than the bears.
