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Yellowstone biologists working in the northern part of the park reported seeing the first grizzly bear of the spring season on Monday. The bear was observed in the backcountry dining on a bull bison …
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Yellowstone biologists working in the northern part of the park reported seeing the first grizzly bear of the spring season on Monday. The bear was observed in the backcountry dining on a bull bison carcass.
Male grizzlies come out of hibernation in early March. Females with cubs emerge in April and early May. The first reported grizzly bear sighting of 2025 occurred on March 14. In 2024, it occurred on March 3, and in 2022 and 2023, March 7.
When bears emerge from hibernation, they look for food and often feed on elk and bison that died over the winter. Bears may react aggressively to encounters with people when feeding on carcasses.
The entirety of Yellowstone is grizzly and black bear country: from the deepest backcountry to the boardwalks and parking lots around Old Faithful.
Bear spray has proven effective in deterring bears defending cubs and food sources. 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.
