Thanks to California's warm spell, Yosemite visitors might catch a glimpse of a bear in the middle of winter, which is not as unusual as it might seem.
Black bears were recently spotted near Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Yosemite National Park Ranger Scott Gediman says bears are actually not "true hibernators."
"The fact that bears are active this time of year is not all that unnatural and really isn't a cause for concern," Gediman said. "The thing that will make it a cause for concern is if the bears start getting human food."
John Buckley with the Central Sierra Environmental Resource Center agrees the warm spell won't have much of an impact on the estimated 350 to 400 bears in Yosemite.
"But there clearly could be long-term effects for bears if they are out and active during a period with the least amount of available food, and so it's better for them to be hibernating and dormant," Buckley said.
The warm weather has also brought an increase in visitors to Yosemite. The park is reminding visitors to take precautions with their food.
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