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The bears
in Yosemite National Park aren't the type to hide in the woods all day.
Just ask the 300+ people who had bears break into their cars this year
alone. Often, it's something little that attracts a bear: a gum wrapper
on the front seat; a bottle of suntan lotion. Sometimes, it's more obvious:
dinner leftovers on a picnic table; an ice chest in the back seat.
After over 100 break-ins occurred during the early spring months, the
National Park Service launched a major program, striving to inform the
public about bears, and how to keep their property "bear safe." Without
the public's help, bears will continue to seek out human food, damaging
vehicles and other property in the process. The park service gives "problem"
bears a few chances to reform (relocating bears into wilderness areas,
tracking its actions with radio collars), but
if the bear continues to seek out human food, it is killed. The future
of bears in Yosemite truly relies on park visitors. Check out the articles
below for more information.
Bears: Their Fate Depends on You
At the age of 16, bear #968 is one of the oldest known bears
in Yosemite National Park. Although she is officially known only by
her tag number, she was named "Viola" by the campground rangers who
first caught and tagged her in 1988. Exposed to human food at an early
age, Viola has become an expert at getting food from humans. Some might
refer to her as a "problem bear," but Viola is not the problem! Despite
regulations and education, visitors to Yosemite continue to store food
improperly, making it easy for Viola and other bears to continue taking
food from people. As a result, the bears' days may be numbered. In fact,
four bears in Yosemite had to be killed in 1997 when their behavior
shifted from car-clouting to aggression toward humans.
Yosemite Beset by Savvy Bears
"When Cindy Farabaugh went to her car in a Yosemite parking lot Wednesday
morning, she discovered an ugly scene.
Two
vans parked on either side of her Cadillac Seville had been broken into.
The rear windows had been smashed and clothes, crackers, and Cheetos
were strewn on the ground. Telltale prints left no doubt about who the
vandals were: hungry, savvy bears."
Notes From a Benign Bear Hunt
Surveying the Pillage and Looting in Yosemite, It's Hard to Tell Which
Species Is the Real Culprit
The receipt on the vehicle's dash shows the owner's campsite
number. On our way there, we pass a dozen other tent areas littered
with food containers and coolers. Steel bear-proof food boxes sit unused.
Kate shakes the tent and relays the bad news. The car's groggy owner
and his climbing partner are soon staring at the scene of destruction.
Kate gives them a few moments to let it all sink in and then asks: "Didn't
you get the message not to leave food in your vehicle?"
The culprit responds sullenly: "We got the message ... we just didn't
do it."
Kate puts it to him bluntly. "This bear may be dead soon. If it keeps
it up, we may have to kill it!"
Yosemite Bear Damage At Record
Pace
During One August Week, Bears Broke Into 59 Vehicles
Wildlife biologists one night this week saw 50 Yosemite National
Park visitors with cameras searching the Curry Village parking lot for
bears to photograph.
"Some people want a photo of a bear for their family albums," said Yosemite
spokeswoman Christine Cowles, who was with the biologists. "A couple
of people have even left food out on tables at night so bears will come
by for a photo."
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