While tourists social distance, bobcats, coyotes and bears reclaim Yosemite National Park

With people across the world staying home and practicing social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, some animals have taken full advantage of the open spaces.

News 12 Staff

Apr 16, 2020, 10:51 AM

Updated 1,562 days ago

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With people across the world staying home and practicing social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, some animals have taken full advantage of the open spaces.
Park rangers at Yosemite Nation Park say bobcats, coyotes and bears have reclaimed the land.
“The bears are literally just walking down the road to get to where they need to go,” says Park Ranger Katie Patrick. “For the most part, I think they’re having a party.
Yosemite National Park has been closed since March 20.
Park rangers say normally this time of year is very popular for tourists at Yosemite, making it difficult for animals to roam free.
Patrick, who hosted a Facebook Live event on Sunday, says Yosemite is home to about 300 to 500 black bears.
She says with the closure of the park, bears have been seen much more frequently around the park.
Patrick says she believes more bears are out due to the lack of people. Most visitors to Yosemite stay in the Yosemite Valley area of the park. She says this area is also a great habitat for bears.
On average, Yosemite National Park is used to seeing around 4 million visitors each year.
There is no estimated reopening date for the park yet.
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