The road now leads back past the Big Trees Lodge, Big Trees Campground, and the South Entrance Ranger Station. However, many visitors, having brought their lunch, take advantage of the picnic area near the museum. This will give you more of an opportunity to get acquainted with the mule deer, chipmunks, squirrels, many birds and perhaps even a black bear. The National Park Service requests that you do not feed the wild animals for two reasons: (1) The foods which you have available are very likely harmful to the animals; and (2) it is dangerous to feed them, especially in the case of the black bear. Extreme care should be taken to keep small children away from the deer as they may cause injury with their forefeet if suddenly frightened.

[Editor’s note: picnicking is no longer allowed in Mariposa Grove. It attacts Carpenter Ants that destroy Giant Sequoias by carving numerous chambers in the tree. —dea.]