Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National ParksPossession of weapons, including bear spray, is prohibited. Possession of firearms is subject to state regulations. In all wilderness areas along the JMT, proper food storage is mandatory.
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Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National ParksPossession of weapons, including bear spray, is prohibited. Possession of firearms is subject to state regulations. In all wilderness areas along the JMT, proper food storage is mandatory.
If you have a trip planned to Yosemite National Park this summer, go ahead and leave the bear spray at home. It's not allowed within park boundaries. Bear spray is actually considered a weapon according to the park's regulations.
Perhaps the most high-profile of Sequoia wildlife, black bears thrive in the park. Despite their name, black bears can be brown, cinnamon, or even blonde in color. Black bears are not usually aggressive, and often escape danger by climbing trees.
Make sure you know before you go. In national parks where grizzlies live, such as Glacier or Grand Teton, rangers encourage you to carry bear spray. In others, such as Yosemite, where only black bears live, bear spray is not even permitted.
Visit the Parker Group SequoiasThis is a group of giant sequoia trees that are huddled close to each other. We were thrilled to get up and close to some of the largest Sequoia trees. Unlike the General Sherman Tree, which is fenced off, one can walk up close to these trees and even touch them.
California is home to an estimated 35,000 black bears; several hundred live within the 865,000-acre contiguous spread of Sequoia &Kings Canyon National Parks. Each year, two black bears on average are destroyed after numerous documented efforts are made to deter their taste for the food humans eat.
Hiking Checklist - RedwoodsThere are black bears found throughout the Redwoods, but hiking with or without bear spray is truly up to your own discretion and comfort level in black bear territory.
Animal repellent (such as bear spray) is a tricky issue. It can be checked IF it is less than four ounces and contains less than 2% of the active CS or CN ingredient. Since most products do not meet this requirement, it is best to leave the bear spray at home and buy it upon arrival.
Bobcats and mountain lions are common throughout the foothills of the parks. While you may catch a glimpse of a bobcat, mountain lions are rarely seen.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Harris, Samantha Winiecki-Love, Ryan Slezak and Colibri Ecological Consulting via CDFW. On August 11, 2023, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that a new pack of gray wolves (Canis lupus) has been confirmed within Sequoia National Forest in Tulare County, CA!