How active are the bears in yosemite this time of year?

I'm heading to the valley next week, and wondering about how active the bears are, inside and outside the park this time of year? I know it just snowed, so are they starting to sleep, or too early?

Thanks

We saw one sauntering around at Camp 4 wall last weekend (10/31). Use bear lockers anytime they're available, and don't leave food in a pack at the base if you're not right next to it.

I've seen 8 bears in the last three weekends, mostly in the valley. It's the most active I've seen them. Not an issue if you store food properly and keep distance, but the bears tend to create traffic jams of tourists stopping when they're in highly visible areas. I've seen the most around Sunnyside Bench area. 

Saw a huge steamy bear turd on the trail to the nose today. Dunno if that helps ya. 

I saw 3 baby bears yesterday by the Cookie!

Thanks for the heads up everyone!

How are conditions in Yosemite right now?  Still snowy?

1/3 of black bears in the Sierra Nevada do not den and move to lower elevations (1000’-4000’) and find year round food sources. If it’s a mild winter in the Valley and Lower Merced, they’ll be active most of the year.

Male bears usually den mid Dec until March/ Apr. For females, having cubs, add an extra month on both ends of that time frame.

M Appelquist wrote:

Bearly 

I can't believe you. Thanks though.

None of the Yosemite bears hibernate because they have consistent food sources according the the yosemite bear team. They're more active this year than any of the last 10 years from what I've seen.

I've seen them lifting weights in Camp 4, and I think they go bouldering occasionally, but mostly they just sitting around smoking reefers.

Thanks for all the replies. Ended up getting a last minute campsite, so I got a locker. Thanks 

I will say...saw an adolescent bear absolutely FLY up a tree below Salathe Wall two weeks ago. Little fella was jumping back and forth on the tiny shaky branches up high without a care in the world.

It's only a matter of time before the bears learn to jam cracks and start snaking all the best routes in the valley.

PS. Yes we were viewing from a distance. One time I scared a mama and her cubs and respectfully walked away. They really are friendly wonderful creatures when you give them the chance to do their bear things in their bear ways.

edited to add picture of cute bear

Black bears can climb 5.8

Mike Swrote:

Black bears can climb 5.8

Bear's can actually climb up to 5.10 (though they can't always get down from it) Royal Arches gets shut down at least once every few seasons when a bear wanders up the 5.10 ledges off route from the climb and gets ledged out. Here's an article and video of bears (gumby kid bears at that) climbing 5.9ow https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/green-life/2014/05/wait-bears-can-rock-climb 

There was a sign on the camp 4 restrooms a few years ago with a picture of a bear bear rummaging through a pack on a second pitch belay ledge.