MOOSE, Wyo. — Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) announced that bear capture operations for scientific research purposes will begin in the park on Thursday, Sept. 26, and they’re expected to continue until Nov. 15.
Park biologists will capture grizzly and black bears to gather population data. Under the Endangered Species Act, the park is required to monitor the grizzly population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The park said gathered data will inform ongoing research and management efforts, aimed at conserving grizzly and black bear populations in the region.
GTNP noted in its announcement that bear trap sites will be located away from established roadways, hiking trails and backcountry campsites, and that they will be clearly marked with bright warning signs so the public can avoid the closures.
“For bear and human safety, the public must respect these closures and stay out of the posted areas,” GTNP said in the release.
Bears will be lured into culvert traps using food sources including road-killed elk. Staff will then sedate the captured bears to take blood and hair samples, measure and weigh the bears and then tag their ears or fit them with GPS radio collars. Bears will then be released in the same location.
For more on grizzly monitoring, see the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team website.
