Bears in California in July
Yes, July is one of the best months to see bears in California. It is the 3rd busiest month of the year, with 1,613 of the 11,158 sightings logged across the year (14.5%), based on verified iNaturalist records.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 2, 2026.
Peak month for bears in California
14.5%
of yearly sightings
1,613
records in July
#3
busiest month of 12
11,158
verified records a year
June 16.9%, July 14.5%, August 15%. Busiest month is June at 16.9%.
11,158 verified observations of bears in California, recorded across 12 months of the year on iNaturalist.
When bears are recorded in California
Peak month
June
1,885 records (16.9% of the year)
| Month | Observations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| January | 194 | 1.7% |
| February | 159 | 1.4% |
| March | 323 | 2.9% |
| April | 664 | 6% |
| May | 1,367 | 12.3% |
| Junepeak | 1,885 | 16.9% |
| Julypeak | 1,613 | 14.5% |
| Augustpeak | 1,670 | 15% |
| September | 1,273 | 11.4% |
| October | 1,007 | 9% |
| November | 677 | 6.1% |
| December | 326 | 2.9% |
Bears you are most likely to see
| Species | Verified observations |
|---|---|
| American Black Bear | 11,158 |
In California, July carries 14.5% of the year's bears sightings, about 6.2 points above an even month-to-month split. That makes it the 3rd busiest of the twelve months, out of 12 months with recorded activity.
Activity is easing off from June (16.9%) into July, and it heads toward August (15%) after. This is right inside the peak window, so July is one of the surest months to plan a trip around.
The bears most often recorded in California are American Black Bear. Those counts are annual totals rather than a July split, so treat them as which species you are likely to encounter, while the month figures above show how many sightings fall in July itself.
Which bears you are most likely to see
- American Black Bear11,158 records
Plan your bear trip in California
Start with live tours near Alcatraz Island, then compare a nearby stay and a broader wildlife backup before you lock in the trip.
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Live tours nearbySee live tours near Alcatraz Island
Use the live GetYourGuide widget to compare local departures and activity styles close to the main bear viewing area.
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Stay nearbyStay near Alcatraz Island
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Broader backupBook a bear tour in California
Compare guided wildlife tours, boat trips and nature experiences if you want a second travel network beyond the live widget.
Gear to see them
Frequently asked questions
Can you see bears in California in July?+
Yes. July accounts for 1,613 of the 11,158 verified bears sightings logged in California across the year, which is 14.5% of the annual total.
Is July a good time to see bears in California?+
July is one of the best months. It ranks 3rd of the year and sits inside the peak window of June, August and July.
What month is best for bears in California?+
June is the single busiest month, with the broader peak running through June, August and July, based on 11,158 verified observations.
Which bears are you most likely to see in California?+
The most-recorded species in California are American Black Bear, based on all-time iNaturalist counts.
See bears in California in other months
More places to see bears
More wildlife in California