YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK — Biologists in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) will begin monitoring efforts to document the recovery of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) next month.

YNP announced in a press release the ongoing documentation efforts, which include baiting and capturing grizzly bears for scientific research purposes. Agency biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) will be working on field capture operations from Sept. 1 to Oct. 15.

Scientific capture operations will include a variety of activities, per the statement, and all areas where work is being conducted will be marked with bright warning signs at all major access points to inform the public of the activities.

“It is important that the public heed these signs and do not venture into an area that has been posted,” reads the statement.

Monitoring the grizzly bear population is crucial for ongoing research and management of grizzlies in the GYE under the Endangered Species Act. To attract bears, biologists will use natural food sources like road-killed deer and elk. Culvert traps or foot snares are used to capture the bears, then they are handled in accordance with strict safety and animal care protocols developed by the IGBST. The U.S. Geological Survey is working in conjunction with YNP on this project.

Monica is a Staff Reporter who studied journalism at Syracuse University and has been in the valley since 2015. She loves writing about the local food and bev scene, especially craft beer. When she’s not on the clock, you can find her paddle boarding, sewing, or whipping up a new recipe at home.