DUBOIS, Wyo. — An adult male grizzly bear was relocated by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) on Saturday, April 25, according to an announcement by the agency.
The bear was captured due to cattle depredation on private land in Park County, WGFD shared. It was released in the Wiggins Fork drainage, approximately 19 miles north of Dubois, under cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Shoshone National Forest.
This is the first grizzly relocation WGFD has conducted so far this spring. According to the agency, 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. Bears are relocated for reasons including livestock depredation, habituated roadside behavior and more.
“Grizzly bears are only relocated into the recovery zone or adjacent areas,” WGFD’s announcement states. “With any relocation, Game and Fish consults with appropriate agencies to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the relocated grizzly bear’s survival.”
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.
