The Wyoming Game and Fish Department trapped and relocated an adult male grizzly bear September 27, 2017.

The bear was captured for damaging property on private lands on the South Fork of the Shoshone River west of Cody, WY.  In cooperation with the Bridger Teton National Forest, the bear was relocated to the Spread Creek drainage approximately 14 miles southeast of Moran Junction.  The release site is located in currently occupied grizzly bear habitat.

Grizzly bear relocation is a conservation tool afforded bear management personnel to minimize conflicts between humans and grizzly bears and is critical to the recovery of the population. 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 as well as potential human activity in the vicinity of the relocation site. Consultation with the appropriate personnel and agencies occurs to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the survival potential of the relocated grizzly bear. Bears are relocated in accordance with state and federal law and regulation. When selecting a relocation site, the Department makes every consideration to minimize potential conflicts.

Bears can create conflicts after they have obtained food rewards. Game and Fish continues to stress the importance of keeping all attractants (food items, garbage, horse feed, bird seed, and others) unavailable to bears. Reducing attractants available to bears reduces human-bear conflicts.  For more information on grizzly bear management and reducing the potential for conflicts please visit the Bear Wise Wyoming page: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/Wildlife-in-Wyoming/More-Wildlife/Large-Carnivore/Grizzly-Bear-Management/Bear-Wise-Wyoming