Sheridan Region Game and Fish personnel are asking area residents to secure attractants after responding to multiple bear conflicts in recent days.

A four-year-old male black bear was trapped on Brinton Road in Big Horn on the morning of July 10, 2026. Because it was frequenting residential areas and had received repeated food rewards, Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel made the decision to lethally remove the bear. 

Game and Fish personnel received multiple calls about the bear accessing human-provided food.

• On July 7, a caller reported seeing residential garbage cans tipped over in the vicinity of the Big Horn Women’s Club.
• A second caller that day reported a bear accessing his garbage the previous night. Game and Fish personnel responded and found multiple garbage cans in the area tipped over. A trap was placed but was unsuccessful when checked. 
• On July 8, a caller reported she saw a black bear near her fire pit. She said her garbage had been overturned for two or three nights prior. Game and Fish personnel responded and after visiting with residents, confirmed the bear had been in the area for three or four days and received food rewards at least two or three days of those days. A trap was placed on the caller’s property.
• On July 9, Game and Fish personnel checked the trap, but the effort was unsuccessful. They spoke with residents along Brinton Road and confirmed additional locations where the bear had accessed garbage in recent days. A second trap was placed at a location on Brinton Road. 
• On the morning of July 10, the bear was captured. Due to its continued presence in residential areas and several days of documented food rewards, the bear was killed rather than relocated.

Relocation is more successful when a bear has had limited time to access human provided attractants. This makes it important for home or business owners to call the Game and Fish Department as soon as a conflict occurs. 

“After the first reports came in, myself and a game warden attempted to contact homeowners where we saw garbage cans left out,” said Sheridan Region Wildlife Specialist Brady Roberts. “We spoke with some homeowners who were home and if no one was home, we left door hangers asking that trash and other attractants be secured. Unfortunately, there was still an abundance of trash that encouraged the bear to stay in the area.”

“There are many items that can attract bears, such as bird feeders, pet and livestock feed, barbeque grills and others, but in this situation, accessible garbage was the primary conflict we saw,” he continued. “Garbage should be kept inside a garage, shed or other hard-sided structure until the morning of scheduled pickup. Instead, we see people putting bungee cords and ratchet straps on top of lids, placing rocks on lids and other ineffective measures. These may keep wind from blowing lids off, but they do not keep bears from accessing the trash.”

Residents in Sheridan and Johnson counties are encouraged to visit the Bear Wise webpage on the Game and Fish website for tips and information on living and recreating in bear country. Residents may also call the Game and Fish Sheridan Regional Office at 307-672-7418 to speak with personnel about effective options to secure attractants on their property.

If a bear is seen or suspected to be accessing human-provided food rewards, remove the attractants immediately and report the incident as soon as possible to the Game and Fish Regional Office during regular business hours, to the Stop Poaching hotline at 877-WGFD-TIP or to a local law enforcement agency.

Visit the Bear Wise webpage for information on living and recreating in bear country.