Yellowstone’s first grizzly bear of 2026 emerges from his den

This week, a sure sign of spring arrived in Yellowstone National Park. Biologists working in the northern part of the park reported their first grizzly bear sighting of the season on March 9.

The bear was observed feeding on a male bison carcass in the park’s backcountry. As bears begin to emerge from their dens, they roam the area in search of food. They frequently feed on the carcasses of dead elk and bison during the winter. Bears will be aggressive when feeding on carcasses, so as with any bear encounter, it is wise to keep your distance.

Yellowstone is home to two species of bears: grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) and black bears (American Ursus). The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is actually one of the few regions in southern Canada where both species of bears coexist.

Bears wait out winter in their dens in a state called torpor. Torpor is involuntary and triggered largely by lack of food. Some true deep hibernators, like rodents, store food for winter, but bears only use their stored fat reserves for energy during torpor. They will spend the summer building up their fat reserves and this can represent up to 30 percent of the bear’s body weight. Every fall, Katmai National Park in Alaska even celebrates this crucial winter preparation with Fat Bear Week.

Male grizzly bears emerge from their dens in early March, so this observation is timely. In 2025, the first reported sighting was on March 14, while the first bear of 2024 was spotted on March 3. Females and their young will emerge in April and early May.

For visitors to Yellowstone, it is important to remember that the entire park is considered grizzly and black bear country. Whether you’re viewing Old Faithful or the World’s Largest Acid Geyser, using common sense and safety is essential.

• Stay vigilant
• Prepare for a bear encounter by carrying bear spray, knowing how to use it, and making sure it is easily accessible.
• Hike or ski in a group of three or more people. Be sure to stay on maintained trails and make noise.
• Avoid walking at dusk, dawn or night.
• DO NOT RUN if you encounter a bear.
• Stay 100 yards from black and grizzly bears. Instead, use binoculars, a telescope, or a telephoto lens to get a closer look.
• Store food, trash, barbecues and other food items known to attract bears in cars or in bear-proof food storage boxes.
• Report any bear sightings or encounters to a park ranger immediately.

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