On March 2, 2025, a post circulating on Facebook from Casper Planet claimed that Yellowstone National Park’s entrance was obstructed by a group of bears lounging on the roadway. This post included a photograph depicting both large and small bears nearby.
However, the authenticity of this information has been debunked, as official sources confirm that there were no reports of bears blocking access to Yellowstone National Park. The image in question was originally uploaded by another Facebook page, Bear’s World, the previous month with a caption that stated:
“Beautiful photography with AI.”
Interestingly, this original caption has since vanished for reasons that remain unspecified. Beyond this, Casper Planet later acknowledged in the comments section of their post that the news was not true. Additionally, the bio on their Facebook page outlines their focus on satire, stating:
“Delivering the Snews that doesn’t matter directly to your Snews feed. Did we say this is satire? Well it is, names/locations are made up.”
The comments section quickly filled with varied responses, with some users speculating that the image was AI-generated. Others pondered the improbable scenario of bears blocking the road to the park.
Analysis of the Facebook Post about Bears in Yellowstone
Casper Planet’s post suggested that the bears occupying the road to Yellowstone might have sensed an unknown phenomenon, with reports of multiple grizzly and black bears prompting road closures and campsite evacuations for unwitting tourists.
The post purportedly featured a statement from a fictional Yellowstone biologist, Henry Clawson, describing the incident as “deeply unsettling.” This fictive narrative claimed that the bears were interacting in a peculiar manner, appearing well-fed and unusually calm. Allegedly, the bears were sitting together, exchanging nods, and even holding up simplistic wooden signs, leading to speculation regarding their literacy, as articulated in the post:
“The bears, appearing well-fed and unusually calm, have reportedly been standing shoulder to shoulder, occasionally exchanging nods and guttural grunts. Some are even holding up crude wooden signs that, while unreadable, have fueled concerns that bears may now be literate.”
Furthermore, the post alleged that national park officials had closed off access to the park. It speculated that authorities were scrambling for a solution while some commentators suggested the implausibility of negotiating with the bears.
Authorities were reportedly advising the public to refrain from feeding the bears and to maintain a state of calm. They also discouraged visitors from traveling to Yellowstone. The narrative suggested that scientists were exploring various possibilities related to the bears’ unusual congregation, including early hibernation confusion.
BearWise states that bears typically emerge from hibernation between March and May each year, further reinforcing the inaccuracy of Casper Planet’s claims, especially considering the timing of the Facebook post in February. A report by SFGate dated March 16, 2025, confirmed the sighting of the first grizzly bear tracks emerging from hibernation on the northern side of the park this month.
Despite the fact that Casper Planet’s post was proven to be false, there has yet to be an official statement from representatives of Yellowstone National Park regarding this incident.