Game and Fish relocates grizzly bear

— September 10, 2014

(Press release) — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department trapped and relocated an adult male grizzly bear September 7, 2014.

The bear was captured for killing livestock on a U.S. Forest Service grazing allotment north of Pinedale, Wyo. In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Shoshone National Forest, the bear was relocated to the Five Mile Creek drainage approximately five miles from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park within the North Fork of the Shoshone River drainage west of Cody. The release site is located in currently occupied grizzly bear habitat.

Grizzly bear relocation is a management tool afforded bear management personnel to minimize conflicts between humans and grizzlies. The decision to relocate and the selection of a relocation site is made taking into consideration the age, sex, and type of conflict the bear was involved in. Since grizzly bears are listed as “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the appropriate land management agency is also made to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the survival potential of the relocated grizzlies. Bears are relocated in accordance with federal law and regulation. When selecting a relocation site, the department makes every consideration to minimize potential conflicts with livestock and people.

Bears can create conflicts after they have obtained food rewards. The department continues to stress the importance of keeping all attractants (food items, horse feeds, bird seed, and others) unavailable to bears. Reducing attractants reduces human-bear conflicts.

— For more information about grizzly bear management, read the WyoFile feature “Feds OK more female grizzly killing in cattle conflict zone,” by Angus M. Thuermer Jr.