CODY, Wyo. — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department recently captured and relocated a pair of adult grizzly bears, one male and one female, which had been involved in separate livestock depredation situations.
The male was captured on Aug. 19, while the female was captured the following day.
The grizzly bears were relocated for involvement with livestock depredation on public lands in the Bridger-Teton National Forest and Shoshone National Forest, respectively.
In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Shoshone National Forest, the male grizzly bear was relocated to the Five Mile Creek drainage approximately 5 miles from the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The female grizzly bear was relocated to the Mormon Creek drainage approximately 42 miles west of Cody.
Grizzly bear 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.
Grizzly bears are only relocated into the recovery zone or adjacent areas. With any relocation, Game and Fish consults with appropriate agencies to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the relocated grizzly bear’s survival.
