MISSOULA, Mont. — Wildlife authorities report that several grizzly bears have been relocated near Yellowstone National Park.

Idaho Fish and Game has relocated a five-year-old female grizzly bear.

Wildlife officials have begun trapping outside Island Park southwest of West Yellowstone, where grizzly bears have been killing cattle in recent weeks.

The game wardens managed to catch a female bear. Since there were other grizzly bears at the scene and the bear had not killed any livestock before, the officers put a radio collar on her and took her deep into the Fish Creek catchment area.

In Wyoming, wildlife officials moved a male grizzly bear into the Five Mile Creek drainage basin, about five miles from the eastern entrance to Yellowstone National Park, and another female grizzly bear into the Mormon Creek drainage basin.

Full release, Idaho Fish and Game:

After consulting with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department captured and relocated a male grizzly bear on August 19, 2024, and a female grizzly bear on August 20, 2024. The two were involved in two separate situations in which they had deprived livestock.

The grizzly bears were captured and relocated because they were involved in cattle raiding 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 watershed, approximately 5 miles from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park, and the female grizzly bear was relocated to the Mormon Creek watershed, approximately 42 miles west of Cody, WY.

Relocation of grizzly bears is done in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations. Game and Fish is required to notify the public when a grizzly bear is relocated.

WHY MOVE?

Grizzly bear translocation is a management tool used by large carnivore biologists to minimize conflict between humans and grizzly bears. Bears deemed to be a threat to human safety will NOT be translocated. In some cases, a bear may be removed from the population if it cannot be successfully relocated.

Trapping is necessary when other deterrence or prevention options have been exhausted or are not feasible. Once the animal is captured, all circumstances are considered to determine if the individual should be relocated. If relocation is warranted, a location is determined taking into account the bear’s age, sex and the type of conflict in which it was involved, as well as any possible human activity nearby.

Grizzly bears will only be relocated to the recovery zone or adjacent areas. Game and Fish consults with appropriate authorities on each relocation to minimize the risk of future conflict and maximize the survival of the relocated grizzly bears.

HOW THE PUBLIC CAN HELP

Game and Fish continues to emphasize the importance of public responsibility in bear management and the importance of making all attractants such as food, garbage, horse feed, and bird seed inaccessible to bears. Reducing attractants available to bears reduces human-bear conflicts and, in some cases, relocations.

For more information on grizzly bear management and reducing conflict potential, visit the Bear Wise Wyoming website.

Full release: Wyoming Game and Fish Department:

After consulting with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department captured and relocated a male grizzly bear on August 19, 2024, and a female grizzly bear on August 20, 2024. The two were involved in two separate situations in which they had deprived livestock.

The grizzly bears were captured and relocated because they were involved in cattle raiding 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 watershed, approximately 5 miles from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park, and the female grizzly bear was relocated to the Mormon Creek watershed, approximately 42 miles west of Cody, WY.

Relocation of grizzly bears is done in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations. Game and Fish is required to notify the public when a grizzly bear is relocated.

WHY MOVE?

Grizzly bear translocation is a management tool used by large carnivore biologists to minimize conflict between humans and grizzly bears. Bears deemed to be a threat to human safety will NOT be translocated. In some cases, a bear may be removed from the population if it cannot be successfully relocated.

Trapping is necessary when other deterrence or prevention options have been exhausted or are not feasible. Once the animal is captured, all circumstances are considered to determine if the individual should be relocated. If relocation is warranted, a location is determined taking into account the bear’s age, sex and the type of conflict in which it was involved, as well as any possible human activity nearby.

Grizzly bears will only be relocated to the recovery zone or adjacent areas. Game and Fish consults with appropriate authorities on each relocation to minimize the risk of future conflict and maximize the survival of the relocated grizzly bears.

HOW THE PUBLIC CAN HELP

Game and Fish continues to emphasize the importance of public responsibility in bear management and the importance of making all attractants such as food, garbage, horse feed, and bird seed inaccessible to bears. Reducing attractants available to bears reduces human-bear conflicts and, in some cases, relocations.

For more information on grizzly bear management and reducing conflict potential, visit the Bear Wise Wyoming website.