Bear Trapping Happening in Yellowstone

Bear research operations have begun in Yellowstone.

As part of ongoing efforts to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, biologists with the National Park Service and Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team will be continuing scientific grizzly bear research operations in Yellowstone National Park through October 31.

Team members will bait and capture bears at several remote sites within Yellowstone. Once captured, the bears are anesthetized to allow wildlife biologists to radio-collar and collect scientific samples for study.

None of the capture sites in the park will be located near any established hiking trails or backcountry campsites, and all capture sites will have posted warnings for the closure perimeter. Backcountry users who come upon any of these posted areas need to heed the warnings and stay out of the area.

The gathering of critical data on bears is part of a long-term research and monitoring effort to help wildlife managers devise and implement programs to support the ongoing conservation of Yellowstone’s grizzly bear and black bear populations.