Give Valley Bears a Brake

Speeding drivers a major hazard to Yosemite bears and other wildlife

by Mark Grossi
Fresno Bee - July 6, 2004

More animals die from encounters with speeding vehicles than any other human-related incidents in Yosemite. Squirrels, deer, foxes, fishers and ring-tailed cats become roadkill each year as more than 3 million visitors come through the park.

But the impact on the park's beloved black bears best illustrates the point:

Of the eight Yosemite bear deaths resulting from human contact last year, seven occurred in vehicle accidents. Only one bear was destroyed by lethal injection when it became obnoxious and aggressive with people in pursuit of human food.

The total of seven bears killed by vehicles last year was not uncommon. The annual average is five. Officials said some vehicle-bear accidents appear unavoidable, but many involve a speeding vehicle.

Encounters between people and bears, many involving bears raiding campsites, cars, trash cans and picnic tables for food, have been dropping over the past five years.

Last year, there were more than 385 incidents, compared with 1,584 five years ago. The lowest recent number was 230 three years ago.

Park officials credit an intense education campaign, urging visitors to store food in bear-proof lockers or canisters. Bears have a keen sense of smell and have no problem learning how to smash into a car for something as small as a candy bar.

The animals have caused major headaches and thousands of dollars in damage to get human food. In 1998 alone, they caused more than $650,000 in damage.

Bears quickly learn that human food has far more calories than the food they find in the wild. More importantly, once bears learn how to get human food, they sometimes become aggressive toward people to get more food, though actual attacks are rare.

Rangers are forced to destroy bears that threaten people or start "bluff charging" to scare campers away from their food. This year some critics have commented that the recent increases in bear incidents (380+ incidents verus 230) are related to laxer policies towards campers and visitors.

But a more common threat, for people and bears, is speeding vehicles. Park biologist Steve Thompson said a vehicle-versus-bear accident can injure people, badly damage cars and kill the animal if high speed is involved.

"It's a bad sign if the bear is still there when I reach the scene of an accident," he said. "If it can travel on its own, it has a good chance to recover."

Bears have recovered from concussions and other trauma, but biologists don't know how many bears hobble away from an accident only to die in the wild from their injuries.

Male bears can range in size from 250 to 350 pounds. Some are as large as 500 pounds. When a car strikes an animal that large, the vehicle often needs to be towed away.

The accidents happen in many parts of the park, not just Yosemite Valley, Thompson said. One of the trouble spots is along Tioga Road, the high-country route linking the Sierra's east and west sides.

The speed limit is 45 mph, but motorists have been known to travel up to 70 mph, Schweizer said. Generally, the park speed limit is 35 mph, but it drops to 25 in Yosemite Valley.

Park officials started using roadside trailers equipped with radar and a speed display to show motorists how fast they actually are driving.