Are you interested in seeing a bear while in Mammoth Lakes? Have you ever wondered where the best places are to see a bear in Mammoth? As a way to celebrate our latest Bear t-shirt design, we will go over some basic info about American Black Bears in Mammoth Lakes. Click the shirt below to place an order for the Mammoth Bear T-Shirt and use code TMB30 for 30% off your entire order (also available in Youth & Women's sizes).
Please review this article from Mammoth Lakes Tourism about Bear Safety It covers topics like food & trash storage, bear cannisters for backpacking, and what to do when you encounter a bear. This article offers some great info that everyone who travels in bear territory should know. Black Bears are generally not very aggressive, so if you see one don't panic, just proceed with caution and do not approach or corner a bear.
As for where to see bears in Mammoth Lakes, you should be aware that they are just about everywhere in town. There is a quote from the "bear whisperer" Steve Searles, who is sadly no longer employed by the Town of Mammoth Lakes - "if you are in Mammoth, you are always within 100 yards of a bear". Despite their size, they are super quite and not easy to spot.
The truth is that you are just as likely to see a bear walking through a neighborhood as you are to see one on a hike in the middle of nowhere. You don't see them as often on or near Main Street, but they spend a lot of time on side streets and in areas with less traffic. They tend to be more active late in the afternoon and at night. Sadly, they are often spotted trying to get in dumpsters in various condo complexes. They also seem to be very active up in the Lakes Basin close to Lake Mary and Horseshoe Lake and near Snow Creek and Sierra Star golf courses. There isn't really a strategy to spot a bear in Mammoth, but if you spend a lot of time up here you are almost guaranteed to see bears regularly.