The first grizzly bear sightings of 2018 occurred in Yellowstone National Park during the first week of March. Staff observed an 11-year-old male grizzly bear wearing a radio collar in the west-central part of the park. One day later, employees reported seeing a grizzly bear in the east-central part of the park.
Male grizzlies come out of hibernation in mid-to-late March. Females with cubs emerge later, in April to early May. When bears emerge from hibernation, they look for food and often feed on elk and bison that died over the winter. Sometimes, bears will react aggressively while feeding on carcasses.
If you plan to visit the park, officials ask you to be extremely vigilant.
(Photo source: National Park Service/Angela Bohlke)