The Wyoming Game and Fish Department captured two sub-adult grizzly bears, a male and a female, on July 25, 2015.

The bears were captured after frequenting a campground and other developed areas along the Beartooth Highway, Wyoming Highway 212, northwest of Cody, WY. In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Grand Teton National Park, the bears were released in the Bailey Creek drainage, approximately 15 miles northwest of Moran Junction in currently occupied grizzly bear habitat.

Bears can create conflicts and become food conditioned after they have obtained food rewards. The department continues to stress the importance of keeping all attractants (garbage, food items, horse feeds, bird seed, and others) unavailable to bears and maintaining awareness when living and recreating in bear country. Reducing attractants reduces human-bear conflicts and associated management actions.

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 made to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the survival potential of grizzly bears. Bears are relocated in accordance with federal law and regulation.