As the weather warms up, the dormant creatures of Yellowstone National Park are waking up and the bear sightings have begun.

Bears waking up can be exciting for visitors as it has been a long time since they have been sighted, but it can also be a scary time as the bears are hungry. And a hungry bear can be a grumpy bear.

When Do The Bears Come Out Of Hibernation In Yellowstone

Tourists and park employees have already seen bears roaming the park this year. The first bear sighting was reported on March 3rd on the YNP Facebook page and a photo of a bear near Norris Junction was posted on March 12th.

Where to See Bears in Yellowstone National Park

Technically you can see bears all over Yellowstone. The National Park sent out a reminder recently that all of Yellowstone is bear country. Last summer we saw a bear only a few minutes into the West Entrance and the summer before that we saw bears on Norris Canyon Road near Canyon Village and by the side of the road on our way to Lamar Valley. We also almost ran into a grizzly who was on the same trail to Fairy Falls as us when we turned a corner.

While you could come across a bear in any part of Yellowstone, the most common places are Lamar and Hayden Valley, Swan Lake Flats, around Tower Junction (also known as the ‘Bear-muda Triangle'), and Dunraven Pass.

RELATED STORY: Remember, Bears Are Still Wild Animals

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No matter where you see a bear, you have to maintain a safe distance. This video from a battle in Alaska shows just how dangerous and vicious a bear can be.

Watch 2 Massive Grizzly Bears Battle

Grizzly Bear & Bison Come to Blows in Yellowstone Brawl [pics + video]

ICYMI: Grizzlies are the a**holes of the animal kingdom, lol. Scroll on to see why!

Gallery Credit: Ryan Antoinette Valenzuela

10 Photos of Bears I Saw In the Wild

I was privileged to take a trip to Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park with guys that have been there before to look for bears. That experience paid huge dividends. I am nowhere close to being a professional photographer, but getting these bear shots was a huge thrill.

Gallery Credit: Zane Mathews

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