CODY, Wyo. — According to a press release from Wyoming Game and Fish a subadult grizzly bear was relocated out of Cody on July 8, 2022.
The bear was captured for cattle depredation on public lands and relocated to the Five Mile drainage approximately 5 miles from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park. Bears are relocated in accordance with state and federal law, and regulation.
Grizzly bear relocation is a management tool large carnivore biologists use to minimize conflict between humans and grizzlies and is critical to manage the expanding population of bears in Wyoming. Grizzlies are only captured when other deterrents or preventative options have been exhausted. Once the animal is captured, all circumstances are taken into account when determining if the individual should be relocated.
Grizzly bears are only relocated into areas already occupied by other grizzly bears. With any relocation Game and Fish consults with appropriate agencies to minimize the chance of future conflicts. Bears that are considered a threat to human safety are NOT relocated.
Game and Fish continues to stress the importance of the public’s responsibility in bear management and the importance of keeping all attractants such as food, garbage, horse feed, and bird seed unavailable to bears. The reduction of attractants available to bears reduces human-bear conflicts and in some cases, relocation.
For more information on grizzly bear management and reducing the potential for conflicts you can visit the Bear Wise Wyoming.
