YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Time to dust off the bear spray. Yellowstone National Park (YNP) has announced its first grizzly sighting of the year.
YNP shared that park biologists working in the northern part of the park saw a grizzly scavenging on a bison carcass in the backcountry on Monday, March 9. Historically, YNP has reported its first spring grizzly in early March: in 2025, it was March 14; the year before, it was March 3; it was March 7 in both 2022 and 2023.
“When bears emerge from hibernation, they look for food and often feed on elk and bison that died over the winter,” YNP’s announcement reads. “Bears may react aggressively to encounters with people when feeding on carcasses. Male grizzlies come out of hibernation in early March. Females with cubs emerge in April and early May.”
Remember that all of YNP is considered bear country, even the boardwalks and parking lots at Old Faithful.
YNP advises visitors to protect themselves and to protect bears by doing the following:
- Prepare for a bear encounter by carrying bear spray, knowing how to use it and making sure it’s accessible.
- Stay alert.
- Hike or ski in groups of three or more, stay on maintained trails and make noise. Avoid hiking at dusk, dawn or at night.
- Do not run if you encounter a bear. Stay 100 yards away from black and grizzly bears. Approaching bears within 100 yards is prohibited. Use binoculars, a telescope or telephoto lens to get a closer look.
- Store food, garbage, barbecue grills and other attractants in hard-sided vehicles or bear-proof food storage boxes.
- Report bear sightings and encounters to a park ranger immediately.
“Bear spray has proven effective in deterring bears defending cubs and food sources,” YNP stated. “It can also reduce the number of bears killed by people in self-defense. While firearms are allowed in the park, the discharge of a firearm by visitors is a violation of park regulations.”
