GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — It’s officially bear season in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) once again.
The park’s first grizzly of the year was spotted on Tuesday, March 26, according to an announcement by GTNP. Further details regarding the bear’s exact location, or identifying characteristics, have yet to be shared.
“Now that bears are emerging from their dens, visitors and local community residents are encouraged to be bear aware,” GTNP said on Facebook.
In the meantime, GTNP encourages visitors to revisit best practices for recreating in bear country:
- Be alert and watch for bears, fresh tracks or scat
- Make noise, especially in areas with limited visibility
- Carry bear spray, know how to use it and keep it readily
- Hike and ski in groups of three or more people
- Secure all bear attractants (food, garbage, cooking gear, etc.) inside a car or a bear-resistant locker, and never leave backpacks unattended
Federal regulations require that people stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves (including while in a vehicle) and 25 yards from all other wildlife. To learn more about bears, safe bear viewing, and how to properly use bear spray, visit go.nps.gov/tetonbears.
Grizzlies have been waking up from hibernation in Yellowstone National Park, too. Male grizzlies come out of hibernation in early March. Females with cubs emerge in April and early May. When bears emerge from hibernation, they look for food and often feed on elk and bison that died over the winter. Bears will react aggressively to encounters with people when feeding on carcasses.
