Grizzly bear capture operations in Yellowstone National Park have been extended from Aug. 28 to Oct. 23, the National Park Service announced Monday.
In order to attract bears for research, biologists use natural food sources such as fresh road-killed deer and elk. Potential capture sites are baited with these natural foods and if indications are that grizzly bears are in the area, culvert traps or foot snares will be used to capture the bears.
Once captured, bears are handled in accordance with strict safety and animal care protocols.
Capture operations can include a variety of activities, but all areas where work is being conducted will have primary access points marked with warning signs.
Monitoring of grizzly bear distribution and other activities are vital to ongoing recovery of grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem.
Whenever bear capture activities are being conducted for scientific purposes, the area around the site will be posted with bright warning signs to inform the public of the activities occurring. These signs are posted along the major access points to the capture site.
