Greater Yellowstone Bears

05/09/2026

In 2025, Grand Teton National park issued visitors 1,800 warnings for improperly securing food in bear country

Unsecured human food remains an issue for Grand Teton National Park’s bears. That’s according to Justin Schwabedissen, the park’s bear biologist, who on Wednesday presented data on all things bears to a group of Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem land and wildlife managers.
The park had zero grizzly conflicts last year, but humans continue to cause problems for black bears by leaving food out near park lakes.
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Food storage at frontcountry lakes remains an issue, impacting black bears but not grizzlies.

03/10/2026

(News Release) On March 9, Yellowstone biologists working in the northern part of the park reported seeing the first grizzly bear of the spring season. The bear was observed in the backcountry scavenging on a bull bison carcass.

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. Male grizzlies come out of hibernation in early March. Females with cubs emerge in April and early May.

All of Yellowstone is grizzly and black bear country: from the deepest backcountry to the boardwalks and parking lots around Old Faithful. Protect yourself and bears by following our safety guidelines:
🐻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 (91 m) 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.

Learn more at go.nps.gov/26003

01/20/2026

IDAHO
The reward for information leading to the killer of a female grizzly bear has been increased to $15,000.
According to a news release from the Center for Biological Diversity, they are looking for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the illegal killing of a federally protected grizzly bear in northern Idaho.
The bear, a female grizzly from the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem, was killed in late 2025, near Perkins Lake by the Montana border.
Learn more
https://www.eastidahonews.com/2026/01/15000-reward-for-information-leading-to-conviction-of-idaho-grizzly-bear-killer/

01/08/2026

USFS - How Human Generated Noise Disrupts Wildlife! 🦌 🐻 🦊

12 Pages of information on the PDF!
https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/pubs_journals/rmrs/sycu/2025/sycu_71_2025_human_noise.pdf

01/01/2026

Have a BEARY Happy NEW YEAR’S DAY - 2026! 🐻

01/01/2026

In Yellowstone National Park and areas just outside the park, at least 72 Grizzly Bears have died in 2025, mostly at the hands of humans.

That’s according to preliminary data released by the U.S. Geological Survey and a group of researchers that focus on the species across the rocky mountain region.

The database lists 72 grizzly mortalities this year, after Matthew Gould, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team’s leader, confirmed one more death before the holidays and updated it, tying the highest recorded annual mortality among grizzlies. In 2024, published USGS data also shows around 72 known or probable grizzly deaths, though the numbers are routinely updated as wildlife managers continue to investigate some incidents.

Nearly two-thirds of the deaths were caused by humans, according to data from researchers studying the species.

10/16/2025

Defending the Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear Recovery Vision 🐻
Learn more -

Science shows that true recovery of grizzly bears requires a unified population with connected ecosystems.

10/07/2025

IGBC Accepting Grant Applications to support Grizzly Bear Education,
conflict reduction

09/12/2025

It’s really important to move roadkill away from any roadway!

A rare chain reaction along the southern flank of the Wind River Range exemplifies thousands of lethal wildlife-vehicle collisions that occur on Wyoming highways each year.

08/17/2025

🐻 Billings bear awareness presentation at Bass Pro Shops 🐻
TUESDAY, August 19th, 2025 at 6:00pm.
Bass Pro Shop in Billings, Montana.

BILLINGS – Prompted by the recent black bear sightings in Billings, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks staff will host a bear awareness presentation at Bass Pro Shops, formerly Cabela’s, in Billings (4550 King Avenue East) on Tuesday, Aug. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. The meeting is FREE to attend and no pre-registration is required.

08/12/2025

Black bear hit, killed by car outside Grand Teton National Park

A black bear was struck and killed by a semitruck Monday in Grand Teton National Park.
The adult female bear was hit at around 10:30 a.m. south of Moose Junction on Highway 26/89. The park deemed the collision an accident. There was nothing the driver could have done to avoid hitting the bear, said Emily Davis, spokesperson for Teton Park.
Read more
https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/news/environmental/local/black-bear-hit-killed-by-car-outside-grand-teton-national-park/article_d3cc4984-e79e-4bba-87b8-9a5050c7396b.html

A black bear was struck and killed by a semitruck Monday in Grand Teton National Park.