Popular Science

Yellowstone’s First Grizzly Bear of 2026 Emerges From His Den

Biologists in northern Yellowstone reported the park’s first grizzly bear of 2026 on March 9, observing the male scavenging a bull bison carcass. The sighting aligns with the typical early‑March emergence of male grizzlies from winter torpor, while females with cubs usually appear in April or May. Bears rely on up to 30 percent of their body weight in fat reserves built during summer, then hunt carrion as they re‑establish foraging patterns. The event underscores the park’s dual‑bear ecosystem and the need for visitor vigilance during the seasonal transition.