The Mammoth Lakes area of California is home to more than 800 campsites, many of which are situated near alpine lakes or stunning forest streams. There are tons of private and public options to choose from, some requiring reservations and others acting as first-come-first-serve. But no matter which option you go with, you always have to stay bear aware.
The American black bear is the only bear species found in the Mammoth Lakes area, but they’re around. Black bears aren’t typically agressive towards humans, threat to people if they are not kept wild. Anyone who lives in or visits Mammoth Lakes or any area in bear country (whether it’s black bear or grizzly bear country) needs to practice safe bear behavior to help keep bears and other wildlife wild.
With campsites and other recreation locations in bear country, this means safely storing food and other scented items in a food storage locker when you’re not actively using it and keeping a clean campsite/area. All food scraps should be cleaned up and all cooking surfaces should be wiped down. Trash should be picked up and secured in locked dumpsters and food should never be cooked or stored in or near your tent. If you’re camping somewhere without food lockers, use bear canisters to store food. Never keep your area like this guy’s space fishing on Lake Mary.
There’s a ton of things going wrong in this guy’s fishing area, including open food canisters, empty drink/beer cans, and other pieces of garbage. It’s easy to see why a bear would be attracted to an area like this. Plus once this massive black bear approaches, the guy just stands there and softly says “no”. If a black bear approaches your campsite you should stand tall and make noise to scare the bear away, banging pots and pans together while shouting.
California State Parks Bear Encounter Guidelines:
In the campground: Do not run. Do not make aggressive moves toward the bear. Stand tall and make noise to scare the bear away. Loudly bang pots and pans together and shout, Go, Bear, Go!
In the woods: This is the bear’s home. Respect that and do not run. Pick up small children. Make yourself appear as large as possible. Stay calm and quiet, and slowly back away. If the bear approaches you, make noise and yell, Go, Bear, Go!
Never approach a bear!