Grizzly Bears Emerge From Dens

The time of the year is here when the Greater Yellowstone Area population of grizzly bears is emerging from its dens and will be, well, as hungry as bears.  Typically, says Yellowstone Spokesman Dan Hottle, the bears will be attracted to winter-killed elk and bison.  Hottle says park visitors who come across an ungulate carcass, be it a deer, elk or bison, they definitely should leave the area; keep alert and report it to the nearest visitor center or ranger station as soon as possible so that park biologists can keep track of who’s out there and what’s out there and track it.  Hottle says while the animals themselves have not been reported, rangers have reported seeing tracks leading out of dens in the central part of the park.  He points out that this time of year when the bears begin to emerge, the first thing the park does is go out with a safety message to the hikers, snowshoers, and skiers advising them to stay in groups of three or more, make noise on the trail, and carry bear spray. Hottle reminds that park regulations require visitors to stay 100 yards away from black or grizzly bears at all times, and keep food, garbage, barbecue grills and other attractants stored in hard-sided vehicles or bear-proof storage boxes.