WILSON, Wyo. — A subadult male grizzly bear was captured in Wilson and released northwest of Cody on July 31, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) has announced.
In its press release, the agency said the bear was “relocated preemptively because it frequented developed areas on private lands in the Wilson, Wyoming area.” WGFD collaborated with the Forest Service and the Shoshone National Forest to relocate the bear to the Camp Creek drainage, approximately 30 miles northwest of Cody.
“This bear was in a conflict that involved livestock feed and the Jackson region received countless calls from concerned residents,” WGFD told Buckrail via email.
In the spring, Wilson residents reported at least two grizzly sightings, both near the Aspens condominiums.
According to WGFD, grizzlies are relocated to prevent conflicts between bears and humans, a critical part of managing Wyoming’s growing grizzly bear population. Bears that are considered a threat to human safety are typically not relocated, and instead are removed from the population. Last year, a number of bears were relocated for reasons including livestock depredation, habituated roadside behavior and more.
In May, a grizzly was relocated from private land outside of Cody for cattle deprivation. He was released in the Blackrock Creek drainage, roughly 38 miles northwest of Dubois.
WGFD stresses the importance of the public’s responsibility in bear management. Wyomingites should keep all attractants (including food, trash, horse feed and bird seed) unavailable to bears.
For more information on grizzly bear management and reducing the potential for conflicts, see WGFD’s Bear Wise Wyoming webpage.
