Be “Bear Aware” As Grizzlies Emerge From Hibernation

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is encouraging residents to be “bear aware” as more grizzlies are emerging from hibernation.

Yellowstone National Park officials say that the first sighting of a male grizzly was March 8th near Canyon Village, and the Jackson Hole News & Guide reports that a Game and Fish Warden spotted a bear last Friday near the base of Steamboat Mountain.

Early-to-mid March is usually the timeline for male grizzlies to emerge from hibernation. Female grizzly bears with cubs usually come out in April or May.

Park officials say that people can expect to see grizzly and black bears in the area for the remainder of the season. Game and Fish Bear Wise Coordinator Dusty Lasseter urges residents to take precautions such as carrying bear spray and hiking or skiing in groups.

Lasseter complimented locals for doing, quote, “an exceptional job increasing awareness and taking the necessary precautions to provide for the long-term viability of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem,” end quote.