JACKSON HOLE, WYO – Wyoming Game and Fish authorities confirmed a grizzly bear in Game Creek earlier this month. It is not known if the bear is still in that area, but large carnivore biologist Mike Boyce said a griz in Game Creek is uncommon.
“It does demonstrate that grizzlies continue to show up in places we are not accustomed to seeing them,” says Boyce. “We need to expect to encounter grizzlies in the areas around Jackson and always carry bear spray as a defense.”
The bear showed up on April 2 on a trail camera that had been baited with a deer carcass. Scrolling through the photos, Boyce saw the usual suspects—a red fox, a coyote, and two raccoons—then a “robust-looking bruin” he is sure is a grizzly. The bar has not shown up in any additional photos since.
Grizzly bears have been expanding, in both numbers and distribution, south of Yellowstone National Park for many years. Grizzlies have been documented farther south than Game Creek, but have not been known to hang out there.
