Grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone Park are starting to wake up. Park officials are reminding visitors of bear safety basics. Wolf researchers reported the first grizzly sighting on February 22 in the Nez Perce drainage.
Safety in bear country starts with giving the animals their space. Park regulations require visitors to remain 100 yards from bears at all times.
Attractants like food, garbage, animal feed, and toiletries must be stored in bear-proof boxes or inside hard-sided vehicles.
Park officials recommend travelers stay in groups of three or more, make noise on the trail, and carry bear spray as a last line of defense. Firearms are allowed in the park, but the discharge of firearms is a violation of park regulations. Officials say that rangers who carry firearms rely on bear spray as the most effective means to deal with a bear encounter.
The park sometimes closes areas seasonally for bear management purposes. See a list of bear related closures here.
Visitors can report bear sightings to the nearest visitor center or ranger station. Find more information about bear safety here.