Adapted from an article by Karen Sorensen and
used with permission of The Yosemite Fund
 

Today, most Yosemite Valley visitors wouldn't think of feeding wildlife, or driving across meadows and camping anywhere they pleased. No one would dream of allowing ranchers to graze sheep and cattle in the Valley, or allow large-scale timber harvesting within the park. But in the early years of Yosemite National Park, such actions were not uncommon. By taking a look back, we can gain valuable perspective about our changing relationship with park lands. How far have we come and where do we need to go in the future?

Since first becoming a national park in 1890, activities and management of Yosemite have changed drastically. Early in the century, competition among different park hotels and visitor accommodations resulted in the creation of man-made entertainment and events designed to attract visitors. By contrast, in more recent times, the park has increasingly emphasized enjoyment of Yosemite's natural features and scenic beauty.

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

In the early days, before regulations were established and enforced, bears, like many other animals, were hunted for food and furs. Eventually bears became popular more for their entertainment value. Garbage was dumped regularly on specially built bear-feeding platforms that were lit by floodlights. Tourists piled into bleachers at night to view and photograph the animals as they ate. At one point, the Valley was home to as many as 60 bears during the summer, far more than the area could naturally support. This type of tourist attraction continued in the Valley until the early 1940s.

Today, we better understand the danger to bears and humans of this unnatural relationship. While bears continue to seek out human food, much progress has been made to eliminate their access to food and garbage, and educate visitors about proper food storage techniques. Bear-proof garbage cans and recycling bins have been installed throughout the park, and dumpsters and food storage lockers are available in campgrounds and at trailheads. Additionally, increasing use of bear-resistant food containers by backpackers has proven tremendously successful in the backcountry.