Signs are placed in many places around Yosemite warning drivers of the dangers of bears and reminding motorists to obey the speed limit.
Yosemite National Park Superintendent Ray McPadden used bear deaths as an example of how well the park is handling a 12 percent increase in attendance.
He may be regretting the use of that metric, because July has been a terrible month for bears getting hit by vehicles.
Speaking on July 9 before the Gateway Partners, a group of hospitality and travel leaders, McPadden said resources are being protected and cited fewer bears killed by cars, nine last year, compared to six by that point in 2026.
Ten days after McPadden’s remarks, on July 19, two bears were hit by vehicles near Crane Flat, according to the Yosemite Daily Report.
On Big Oak Flat Road a small female yearling was stuck and killed. Twelve hours later, another bear was struck east of Tamarack Flat on Tioga Road. That bear ran off, so it is unknown if it died.
On July 16, another young bear was hit by a slow moving truck in Yosemite Valley. That bear survived.
In just two weeks, 2026 was on par with 2025 with vehicle bear collisions.
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