Are there bears in Acadia National Park?

Acadia National Park is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including mammals that thrive in the park’s rich habitat. One of the most common questions visitors ask is whether bears live in Acadia. The short answer is yes—black bears do exist in Acadia National Park, although they are rarely seen and encounters with visitors are extremely uncommon. 

The black bear is the only bear species found anywhere in the state of Maine, and while Acadia is not considered prime bear territory compared to the northern and western regions of the state, the park’s forested landscapes and abundant food sources still provide suitable habitat for them.

Quick Reference

Topic	Details
Are black bears present in Acadia?	Yes, Acadia is home to a small and elusive population of black bears.
Bear species in the park	Only the American black bear; no grizzly bears exist in Maine.
Likelihood of seeing a bear	Very low; bears avoid busy areas and encounters are rare.
Where bears are usually found	Deep forests, Schoodic Peninsula woodlands, remote areas of Mount Desert Island.
Bear behavior	Shy, solitary, avoid people, usually active at dawn and dusk.
Danger level	Generally low; black bears are not aggressive unless provoked or habituated to human food.
Food-related risk	Highest risk comes from improper food storage that may attract bears.
Park regulations	Strict rules on food storage and trash disposal to prevent bear encounters.
What to do if you see a bear	Stay calm, speak softly, back away slowly, give the bear space.
Peak activity season	Spring through early fall when foraging is at its highest.

Black bears in Acadia tend to be shy, solitary, and secretive animals. They prefer to stay deep within the park’s interior woodlands, far from the busy coastal areas and popular hiking trails. Because of this natural avoidance of humans, most visitors will never encounter a bear during their visit. In fact, many longtime park staff members report that they can go months or even years without spotting one. Bears typically roam at dawn or dusk, moving quietly through areas with thick vegetation, streams, and natural food sources such as berries, acorns, and insects. Their keen senses help them stay aware of human presence long before a person realizes a bear is nearby, allowing them to slip away unnoticed.

Although sightings are rare, they do happen, usually in remote sections of the park such as the western side of Mount Desert Island or on the quieter trails far from Bar Harbor. When bears do appear, they are almost always behaving naturally—searching for food, moving between forested areas, or exploring fallen logs. They are not aggressive by nature, and incidents involving bears becoming a threat to humans are exceptionally rare in Acadia. The key reason is that the park has maintained strong messaging about proper food storage and wildlife safety, both of which help prevent bears from associating human areas with easy meals.

Human behavior plays an important role in keeping bears wild. When visitors properly store food, secure garbage, and avoid feeding wildlife, bears remain wary and uninterested in approaching developed areas. Problems arise only when bears gain access to human food, which can lead to changes in their natural behavior. Fortunately, Acadia has not experienced the same level of human–bear conflict that is common in some western national parks. The bear population here is small and dispersed, and the park’s layout—with towns, roads, and developed areas breaking up the wilderness—naturally limits bear activity near visitor centers, beaches, and heavily used trails.

For those hoping to see a bear, patience and luck are essential. Even in areas where bears are active, they remain elusive. Hikers who travel quietly at dawn through dense forest corridors might catch a glimpse of one moving silently between trees or feeding on berries, but these moments are uncommon and fleeting. On the other hand, those anxious about bears can feel reassured knowing that the odds of encountering one during a typical Acadia visit are extremely low.

Black bears are an important part of Acadia’s ecosystem. They help disperse seeds, regulate insect populations, and contribute to the region’s biodiversity. Their presence, even if unseen, reflects the health of the park’s natural environment. Many visitors find comfort in knowing that bears still roam Acadia’s wilderness, adding a sense of wildness and mystery to the landscape.