The Wyoming Game and Fish Department captured and relocated an adult female grizzly bear on July 17.

The grizzly bear was captured in association with conflict management efforts for cattle depredation on private land in Sublette County. In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Shoshone National Forest, the grizzly bear was relocated to the Mormon Creek drainage approximately 5 miles from the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park. 

Grizzly bears are relocated in accordance with state and federal law and regulation, and Game and Fish is required to update the public whenever a grizzly bear is relocated.

“Grizzly bear relocation is a management tool large carnivore biologists use to minimize conflicts between humans and grizzly bears. Bears that are considered a threat to human safety are not relocated. In some cases, a bear may be removed from the population if it cannot be relocated successfully,” according to the press release.

Capture is necessary when other deterrents or preventative options are exhausted or unattainable. Once the animal is captured, all circumstances are taken into account when determining if the individual should be relocated. If relocation is warranted, a site is determined by considering the age, sex, and type of conflict the bear was involved in as well as potential human activity nearby.

Grizzly bears are only relocated into the recovery zone or adjacent areas. With any relocation, Game and Fish consults with appropriate agencies including consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service prior to removal to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the relocated grizzly bear’s survival.

“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, bird seed unavailable to bears,” the release reads.

Reducing attractants available to bears reduces human-bear conflicts, and in some cases, relocations.