California national parks post warning amid spike in bear encounters/incidents

American black bears are wreaking havoc in California’s famous Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, smashing through campsites, raiding dumpsters, and driving up property damage figures as they enter a pre-hibernation feeding frenzy.

Official National Park Service figures reveal bear-related incidents have skyrocketed by a staggering 125% since 2020.

More alarmingly, total property damage costs have exploded by an unprecedented 1,800 per cent year-to-date, surging to $17,358 compared to a modest $898 just six years ago.

Park records show total incidents rose from 158 in 2020 to 356 by late September 2026.

The surge comes as hundreds of black bears roam the 1,353-square-mile park grounds, actively foraging for massive caloric intake before entering winter dens between October and December.

While the sprawling parks welcome more than 1.5 million tourists annually, rangers are warning holidaymakers that human negligence is fueling the chaos.

Up to late September, 61 recorded incidents involved unsecured rubbish dumpsters and bins, while 19 involved bears snatching food straight out of campsites, picnic sites, and vehicles.

The wildlife crisis has proven fatal on park roadways as well.

Areas like Giant Forest, Halstead Meadow, and Cedar Grove have emerged as dangerous collision hotspots, with 18 bears injured in vehicle strikes since 2020 and four killed.

In 2024, park staff were forced to euthanase a severely injured bear cub following a hit-and-run impact.

Park authorities noted that fluctuating visitation patterns—driven by past pandemic closures, wildfire disruptions, and recent winter mudslides—have heavily impacted human-bear interactions over the seven-year tracking period.

Over that span, six problem bears have been euthanased due to conflict behavior, while two human injuries have been documented.

Park Superintendent Woody Smeck urged tourists to practice strict vigilance when visiting the pristine Sierra Nevada wilderness.

“Black bears in our national parks are wild, beautiful animals,” Mr Smeck said. “We ask visitors to admire them from a safe distance and to secure food and other scented items.”

Officials advise anyone confronted by a aggressive or bluff-charging bear to stand their ground, raise their arms to appear larger, and shout loudly, warning visitors never to run or place themselves between a mother and her cubs.

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