Wyoming Game and Fish Relocate Another Cattle-Killing Grizzly in Shoshone National Forest
Written by Andrew-Rossi on July 11, 2022
Wyoming Game and Fish has captured and relocated another cattle-killing grizzly to a secure location in Shoshone National Forest, only five miles from Yellowstone National Park.
After consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department relocated a subadult male grizzly bear on July 8, 2022. The bear was captured at an undisclosed location for cattle depredation on public lands.
The cattle-killing bear in question was relocated to the Five Mile drainage. The area – within Shoshone National Forest – is approximately five miles from the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park.
Bears are relocated in accordance with state and federal law and regulation, and Wyoming Game and Fish is required to notify the media whenever a grizzly bear is relocated.
Courtesy National Park Service & Jim Peaco
This is the second grizzly relocated to Park County in 2022 – but definitely not the first relocated to the Five Mile drainage.
The first grizzly relocation of 2022 occurred after a cattle-killing bear was taken to the Sunlight Creek drainage in Shoshone National Forest about 30 miles from Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance.
The Five Mile drainage is a frequent location for relocated bears. At least six grizzlies were relocated to the area in 2021. Grizzlies were also relocated to the same place in 2018 and 2020.
In the past, Wyoming Game and Fish has stated the Five Mile drainage is specifically chosen as a relocation site “due to the lack of human presence.” In one instance, a grizzly relocated for eating animal feed in July 2020 was sent to the Five Mile drainage so the bear could be placed behind a gate.
Wyoming Game and Fish relocated nearly twice as many grizzly bears in 2021 compared to 2020 – which is becoming more difficult year to year.
In 2021, Wyoming Game and Fish captured 45 individual grizzly bears in 49 capture events. Most of the bears were relocated to Park County, including the Five Mile and Sunlight Creek drainages.
“It’s becoming more challenging to find a suitable relocation option for conflict bears. A successful relocation site needs to be somewhere the bear won’t immediately find itself back into conflicts with people or livestock and has a suitable range as well as some biological factors. Sites are limited right now due to high grizzly bear population densities,” DeBolt said.
For more information on grizzly bear management and reducing the potential for conflicts please visit the Bear Wise Wyoming webpage.
