Yellow Pine Volunteer Area is a base for volunteers who contribute hundreds of hours of work to Yosemite National Park. In 2011, Yosemite Conservancy funded the installation of new bear-proof food lockers and wildlife educational resources throughout this volunteer camping area.
Food kept outside lockers encourages bears to the area, and marks the beginning of a preventable downward spiral. Bears develop unhealthy eating habits, becoming aggressive with humans and teaching their cubs’ similar behavior. In some cases the bears must be put down as a result of this behavior.
By providing additional bear-proof food lockers throughout the park we create a simple and effective way of keeping both campers and wildlife safe.