Grizzly bears relocated 

Grizzly bears relocated 

CODY (WNE) — Two grizzly bears that attacked livestock on two different national forests in northwest Wyoming were recently trapped and relocated to the upper North Fork.

After consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department captured and moved an adult male grizzly bear on August 19 and an adult female grizzly bear on August 20. The depredations occurred on the Bridger-Teton National Forest and Shoshone National Forest, respectively, according to a G&F press release.

In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Shoshone National Forest, the male grizzly was released in the Five Mile Creek drainage about 5 miles from the East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park, and the female grizzly went to Mormon Creek about 5 miles farther.

Grizzly bears are relocated in accordance with state and federal law and regulation, and G&F is required to update the public whenever a grizzly bear is relocated.

Relocation is a management tool large carnivore biologists use to minimize conflicts between humans and grizzly bears. Bears that are considered a threat to human safety are not relocated. In some cases, a bear may be removed from the population if it cannot be relocated successfully.

Capture is necessary when other deterrents or preventative options are exhausted or unattainable. Once the animal is captured, all circumstances are taken into account when determining if the individual should be relocated. If relocation is warranted, a site is determined by considering the age, sex and type of conflict the bear was involved in as well as potential human activity nearby.

This story was published on August 28, 2024.