Grizzly Bears On the Move

Grizzly bears are moving farther from their regular habitat.
A sow grizzly and her two cubs were captured and euthanized southwest of Byron last week. Cody Regional Wildlife Supervisor Dan Smith told KULR-8 TV’s Penny Preston that they first became aware of the presence of the bears when they were captured on a remote trail cam feeding on a dead cow on private land. He said their agency has not had evidence of bears in this part of Bighorn County for at least the last forty years.

Because the bear was collared, game managers were able to determine that the bear had been captured and relocated twice in the last five years – in 2013, she was captured near ranch buildings on private lands outside of Cody, and in September of this year, she was captured in Park County for cattle depredation and relocated with two cubs to the Snake River Drainage in Teton County.
Game and Fish recommended removing the bears based on the previous conflict history, habituation to human activities, unsuccessful relocation attempt and behavior of the bears in proximity to humans.
Because grizzlies are once again on the endangered species list, Game and Fish took the action under the direction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.