Gail,

You are correct. Your assumption that the chances of running into something that will eat or injure you is VERY slim.

I have been in the park many times and have never seen a grizzly. I've gone on ranger led day hikes and none of us saw a bear. You will see other wildlife, but unless you try to get close for a photo op, you will be safe and sound.

The days of feeding or allowing park visitors to feed bears are long past - and if a bear gets too close to garbage cans, they are transplanted to the back country. I can't imagine the tales of feeding bears from the cars are recent memories. Yes, it was common decades ago, but not now. Bears that get too close to humans are transplanted and if they come back - well, unfortunately they are often euthanized - for human safety reasons. So, as someone else pleaded earlier...please don't feed the wildlife.

Now, if you are going hiking and camping in the backcountry - well, that's another story. Family members do fairly often and have stories to tell about bears and other critters coming into camp at night - but that's neither here nor there. If you choose to do so, opt not to unroll your bag in that smooth area between the campsite and the river...'cause you are sleeping in the path to the river and you'll be awoken by a big hairy fellow with antlers breathing in your ear...trying to figure out what the heck you are and why you are there!

If you want to see bears, you are welcome to come to my neck of the woods. Black bears are sighted quite often in our woods, strolling the yards and climbing up on decks to get to birdseed. Last year was such a bad year for berries, mom and her cubs were seen strolling down the lane in the middle of the day. No injuries to humans or dogs were reported all summer.

Have a wonderful time in Yellowstone!

I'm sure you'll be fine. Your question reminds me of one of Nevada Barr's National Parks novels - Blood Lure. Hint - the bears are not the bad guys in the murder mystery.

Keep your food, your toiletries, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, all that sort of thing, together in a bear proof container; don't store it in the car. This is when you're stopped; the bears aren't going to charge a moving car to get a peanut butter sandwich. There will probably be bear-proof boxes for food storage in the campgrounds, use them, and don't have random stray bits of food or gum in your car.

And while picnicking, don't let things get spread out so that you can't get everything together and into the car if you see a bear approaching.

Otherwise, these animals aren't going to attack you just for being human. Unless you get between a mother and her cubs.

You bring up something I never even thought of - while we are not camping, our teenagers use the car as a moving restaurant and snack shop - there is always some sort of food in the car. Now I am wondering if various creatures will try to enter the car while it is parked, especially at night. This could be the excuse I need to get the food wrappers out of the car!

From the NPS site for Yosemite:
    
>> In 1997, over 900 cars were damaged by bears in the park and most of these incidents were caused by improper food storage. If your car will be parked in Yosemite after dark, it must not contain any food or related items (see storage instructions in following sections).

• Bears have damaged cars for as little as a stick of gum or an empty soda can, so thoroughly search you car and remove all potential bear attractants. Bears can clearly smell any food in a car, even when it's stored in the vehicle's trunk!

• Bears recognize ice chests, grocery bags, and other food-related supplies. Such items, even when empty, have residual odors. Remove them from vehicles and store them securely. Also remove drinks, garbage, and scented articles such as soap, sunscreen, and toothpaste from vehicles. Don't forget to check the glove compartment!

• Clear your car's interior of clutter. This will reduce the chances of a bear mistaking an article for food, and increase the chances that you will find any stray french fries or other overlooked food. Child car seats should be removed from vehicles since they often have residual food smells.

• Remove all trash and place it in animal-resistant trash cans or dumpsters<<

Here's the url:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/wilderness/bfoodstorage2.htm

Sounds like a great excuse for getting the food wrappers out of the car at night!

Bears have been known to rip open car doors to get at food. ALL bears are dangerous.
Though AAFrequentFlyer was posting I assume with tongue in cheek, it really is nothing to make fun about.
I live in Grizzly country and though I hike a lot I take ALL precautions I can and do so very seriously.
Hike but hike safely!

When I read the title, I thought to myself "this must be the stupidest question ever asked on here"...ok, besides the one that asked about crating a cat on a roadtrip. After I read the post, I see the title doesn't go with the post at all really. Anyways, I've never been to Yellowstone but I have been to other parks. I imagine the more people you have around, the more the animals will be on the move and your more than likely to see wildlife. And no animal really is ever tame or domesticated so keep your distance and do not feed them. When you see some idiot getting too close and gets eaten, then you take the picture.

Oh, yeah, get those food wrappers out of the car. And do not take any food into your tent, (if you're using a tent,) no food in the tent at any time. And change your clothes before going to bed if you spill food on them.

And don't leave anything visible in the car that looks to a bear like it might contain food. Backpacks, bags full of clothes or brochures or whatever, should be kept out of sight, either in the trunk or under a dark blanket in the footwells. Even if it doesn't smell like food the bear might think it worth checking out a shopping bag or a backpack just in case.

Remember,
To escape from the bear that's chasing you, you don't need to run faster than the bear, you just need to run faster than the idiot who decided to get closer than you!