Ever since Yosemite National Park closed its entrances because of COVID-19, bears coming out of hibernation are enjoying free rein on the park.
Ranger Katie, a biologist with more than ten years of experience with black bears, took to a Facebook livestream to share the news, according to CBS.
She described the animals as having a “party,” in what is normally a difficult season due to the influx of visitors come springtime.
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Dane Peterson, an employee at Ahwahnee Hotel at Yosemite has guessed that the bear population has quadrupled, while the park thinks that the same number has been there all along.
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"It's not like they aren't usually here," Peterson said in an interview with Los Angeles Times. "It's that they usually hang back at the edges, or move in the shadows."
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Yosemite National Park has seen more than 4 million visitors for the past five successive years according to the National Park Service. Now, the park is mostly empty since the park closed March 20.
"There can be literally walls of cars, stop-and-go traffic or people in the park. So, for the bears, they normally have pick through these little corridors that they have to move through in the valley to get from Point A to Point B. ... Now, that there are no people the bears are literally just walking down the road to get to where they need to go, which is kind of cool to see." —Ranger Katie, Yosemite
Yosemite released a statement that their park will be closed until further notice, and they are refunding any trips booked through the month of April.
The other 418 national parks across the nation are either modifying operations or closing completely during the coronavirus pandemic.
"While most facilities and events are closed or canceled, outdoor spaces in some parks remain accessible to the public. Before visiting, please check with individual parks regarding changes to park operations. If you choose to visit a national park, please ensure that you follow CDC and state and local guidelines to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and practice Leave No Trace principles." —NPS.gov
The CDC currently recommends practicing social distancing. When in a public outdoor space, guidelines ask that you maintain 6 feet of distance from other people and wear a cloth face covering.
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