Two grizzly bears were trapped and relocated this week after they killed ranchers’ calves in northwest Wyoming.
The bears weren’t chronic troublemakers, Wyoming Game and Fish large carnivore specialist Dan Thompson told Cowboy State Daily.
“Both of these individuals were (trapped and moved) in relation to calf depredation in different spots,” he said.
“Neither of the individuals had a previous conflict history or big enough rap sheet currently to warrant lethal removal, so we marked them and moved them away from the area of depredation to an area that currently does not have livestock grazing,” he added.
One Male, One Female
The bears attacked cattle on public land on the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone National Forests, according to Game and Fish
An adult male grizzly was captured Monday. He was released in the Five Mile Creek drainage, about 5 miles from the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
An adult female was captured Tuesday and released in the Mormon Creek drainage, roughly 42 miles west of Cody.
Whether grizzlies are good candidates for relocation is determined on a case-by-case basis in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), according to Game and Fish.
Since grizzlies remain under federal endangered species protection in the Lower 48, USFWS has primary jurisdiction over them.
Bears that are determined to be a threat to human safety are not relocated and might be killed.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
