JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. – A young 2-year-old grizzly bear, thought to be a descendent of famed grand dame 399, has been relocated after repeated issues in residential areas.
After consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department captured and relocated the sub-adult male grizzly bear on May 6.
WGFD personnel made several attempts of hazing/aversive conditioning to no avail. Finally, the bear was captured due to habituated behavior in close proximity to residential areas and obtaining food rewards north of Jackson in Grand Teton National Park. In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bridger-Teton National Forest, the bear was relocated to the Sheffield Creek drainage approximately 19 miles north of Moran.
If the bear in question is a cub of 610, who is, in turn, a cub of 399, it would mark another example of learned behavior from these grizzly bears. Grizzly 399 is not the most photographed bear in the wild for no reason. The elder sow has made it a practice of sticking near roadsides and areas popular with tourists. Behavioral experts believe the b ear does this intentional to avoid aggressive males who might try to kill young cubs in an effort to bring sows back into heat and ready for mating.
According to WGFD, bears that are considered a threat to human safety are never relocated. Grizzly bear relocation is a management tool afforded to large carnivore biologists to minimize conflicts between humans and grizzly bears and is critical to the management of the population. When other options are exhausted or unattainable, Game and Fish will attempt to capture the bear. Once the animal is captured, all circumstances are considered when determining if the individual should be relocated or removed from the population. If relocation is warranted, selection of a relocation site is determined taking into consideration the age, sex, and type of conflict the bear was involved in as well as potential human activity in the vicinity of the relocation site.
In this case, Sheffield Creek drainage was chosen due to the lack of human presence. Consultation with the appropriate personnel and agencies occurs to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the survival potential of the relocated grizzly bear. Bears that are deemed an immediate threat to human safety are not released back into the wild.
Advice from Grand Teton NP authorities
Don’t be surprised! Snow might still be on the ground but bear spray better be close. With bears out and roaming and some bears taking up an entire road, remember to be bear aware.
Be alert, carry bear spray and know how to use it. This includes while walking, cycling, or skating along the Teton Park Road. Black and grizzly bears may be located anywhere within the park, including developed areas.
Federal regulations require that you stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves and 25 yards away from all other wildlife. View wildlife through a telephoto lens, a spotting scope, or a pair of binoculars. Give wildlife room, use your zoom.
