JACKSON -The Wyoming Game and Fish Department trapped and relocated a sub-adult male grizzly bear on September 7, 2016.
The bear was captured for damaging apple trees on private land and frequenting developed areas in the South Fork River drainage west of Cody, WY.   In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Caribou-Targhee National Forest the bear was relocated to the Boone Creek drainage approximately 15 miles west of Flagg Ranch.   The release site is located in currently occupied grizzly bear habitat
Grizzly bear relocation is a management tool afforded bear management personnel to minimize conflicts between humans and grizzlies. The decision to relocate and the selection of a relocation site is made taking into consideration the age, sex, and type of conflict the bear was involved in. Since grizzly bears are listed as “Threatened” under the Endangered Species Act, consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the appropriate land management agency is also made to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the survival potential of the relocated grizzlies. Bears are relocated in accordance with federal law and regulation. When selecting a relocation site, the department makes every consideration to minimize potential conflicts with livestock and people.
Bears can create conflicts after they have obtained food rewards. Game and Fish continues to stress the importance of keeping all attractants (food items, horse feeds, bird seed, and others) unavailable to bears. Reducing attractants reduces human-bear conflicts.