Wyoming Game and Fish Relocates Grizzly Bear Following Cattle Depredation in Sublette County

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has relocated an adult female grizzly bear after it was involved in cattle depredation on public land in Sublette County.

Following consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, wildlife managers captured the bear on July 17 and transported it to the Five Mile Creek drainage, approximately five miles from Yellowstone National Park’s east entrance. The relocation was coordinated with both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Shoshone National Forest.

State and federal regulations require Wyoming Game and Fish to notify the public whenever a grizzly bear is relocated.

Why Are Grizzly Bears Relocated?

Relocation is one of several management tools used by wildlife biologists to reduce conflicts between people and grizzly bears while maintaining a healthy bear population.

According to Wyoming Game and Fish, bears that pose a direct threat to human safety are not relocated. Instead, relocation is generally reserved for bears involved in conflicts such as livestock depredation or those repeatedly attracted to human-related food sources when other deterrents have proven ineffective or are no longer practical.

Before deciding whether to relocate a bear, biologists evaluate a variety of factors, including:

• The bear’s age and sex.
• The nature of the conflict.
• Previous conflict history.
• Potential human activity near the release site.
• The likelihood of the bear’s long-term survival.

Relocated grizzly bears are only released within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem recovery zone or nearby areas. Wildlife managers coordinate with partner agencies to select release locations that minimize the risk of future conflicts while giving the animal the best opportunity to successfully return to its natural habitat.

In some situations, if a bear cannot be relocated successfully or continues to create serious conflicts, it may ultimately be removed from the population.

Preventing Human-Bear Conflicts

Wildlife officials emphasize that preventing bears from accessing human food sources remains one of the most effective ways to reduce conflicts and the need for relocations.

Residents, campers, hunters, and outdoor recreationists are encouraged to:

• Secure garbage in bear-resistant containers.
• Properly store food and coolers while camping.
• Keep livestock feed and horse grain inaccessible.
• Remove bird feeders when bears are active.
• Clean outdoor cooking areas after use.

When bears learn to associate people with easy food sources, they are much more likely to return to developed areas, increasing the chances of property damage, livestock losses, and public safety concerns.

Bear Country Safety

As summer recreation continues across northwest Wyoming, visitors traveling near Yellowstone National Park, the Shoshone National Forest, and surrounding public lands should remain alert in bear country. Carrying bear spray, making noise while hiking, and properly storing food are all important steps to help keep both people and bears safe.

Reducing attractants and practicing Bear Wise habits not only protects people but also helps wildlife managers avoid having to relocate bears in the future.

For additional information on grizzly bear management and tips for living and recreating safely in bear country, Wyoming Game and Fish encourages the public to visit the Bear Wise Wyoming program.