Yosemite Bears Fitted with Alarms to Curb Encounters with People

by Associated Press
Fresno Bee - August 25, 2003

Yosemite visitors here may no longer need to fear encounters with bears due to a new device that scientists have created to alert park rangers whenever the animals lumber into popular parking or camping spots.

The radio collar device, based on research developed to address run-ins between wolves and ranchers in Idaho, is designed to condition bears to keep away from areas frequented by humans.

Bears fitted with the collars emit signals that notify rangers, who then shoo the animals away with noise, bright lights, rubber bullets or bean bags before they destroy property or get into other trouble.

Although some of the 3.5 million people who visit Yosemite each year may look forward to seeing a bear in its natural habitat, park officials say that when a bear breaks into a car for food, it can alter its behavior and become dangerous.

"One of the things they can learn to get food is to scare people into dropping it. They may display levels of aggression," said Deb Schweizer, a park spokeswoman.

An estimated 350 to 400 bears live in the park, but only 18 are wearing the collars so scientists can track them. Schweizer said a bear has never attacked or mauled anyone in Yosemite, but park officials have killed bears that became too aggressive.

Park officials warn visitors who come across bears to bang pots and pans, shout or throw small rocks near the bear to scare it. The park also urges visitors to store their food in bear-proof containers.

"Bears relate to dominance. We are re-establishing humans as a dominate force in a developed area," Schweizer said.

Sean Matthews, a research biologist, said only two of the collared bears spend most of their time in Yosemite Valley. The rest wander around the backcountry and come into the valley when their regular food sources - grasses, herbs, berries and acorns - are in short supply.