With 2025 drawing to a close, 71 grizzlies have died from various causes in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, compared to last year’s record death toll of 72.
The most common causes of death remain the same. Some include roughly 30 grizzlies killed for attacking livestock, at least eight struck by vehicles and seven killed by other bears.
Twelve of the bear deaths remain “under investigation,” with no official cause yet listed.
That’s according to mortality reports compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey's Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team.
Other recent years with high grizzly death tolls included 68 in 2021 and 69 in 2018.
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) is centered around Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It includes parts of Wyoming adjacent to the park, as well as areas of Montana and Idaho.
The GYE is thought to have a population of roughly 1,000 grizzly bears.
Latest Grizzly Death Was Nov. 2
It’s worth noting that mortalities found reported in any given year sometimes don’t match deaths that occurred that year.
There have been 73 grizzly mortalities found in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) so far in 2025. At least two of those were skeletal remains discovered this year but thought to be from bears that died during a previous year.
In 2024, there were 73 mortalities found, and all but one confirmed to have happened that year.
The most recent grizzly mortality was an injured, orphaned female cub that was euthanized by game agents in the South Fork area near Cody on Nov. 2, according to the report.
Throughout the year, wildlife agents captured and killed grizzlies for attacking livestock. Domestic animals attacked and/or killed by bears included cattle, pigs, sheep and alpaca.
Other grizzlies were captured and killed for hanging around settled areas, getting into human-provided food sources, such as garbage, and displaying aggressive behavior toward humans, according to the report.
Cody Country Has Lots Of Griz
While some expressed alarm over the number of grizzly deaths, others say it’s simply an indicator of a growing bear population.
Seasoned black bear hunter Joe Kondelis of Cody told Cowboy State Daily that he’s seeing more grizzlies than ever.
“I'm not surprised (by the numbers in the report). From my perspective Cody country seemed more loaded with griz this year than normal, which was already high,” he said.
“This spring while black bear hunting, I saw 35 griz in 20 days,” said Kondelis, president of the American Bear Foundation.
Grizzlies remain protected and primarily under federal jurisdiction in the Lower 48. Kondelis said he’d like to see that change.
“I think it’s just a product of how the state is being forced to manage these bears, their hands are tied by the feds and until that changes it's going to continue to be an issue,” he said.
‘Focus On How Bears Live’
Wyoming’s grizzlies are doing well, Wyoming Game and Fish Large Carnivore Specialist Dan Thompson told Cowboy State Daily.
“With the abundance, density and distribution of grizzly bears we have in the GYE we should not be surprised to see levels of mortality higher now than they were even a decade ago,” he said.
“Mortality is not limiting this population, that is the most important part of the discussion that is many times overlooked. Bears are born and survive every year; death is part of the story. While we focus on how bears live there is a societal focus on how bears die,” he added.
Are There Solutions?
Renowned wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen of Jackson told Cowboy State Daily that he’s concerned about the number of grizzly deaths.
The official tally could be only half of the actual bears that are dying, because many deaths might go unreported, he said.
If that’s true, roughly 140 grizzlies could have died so far this year, Mangelsen said.
“Assuming there are around 1,000 grizzlies in GYE, that’s well over 10% of population. It’s similar to last year’s record number, which at that rate is unsustainable. Delisting grizzlies is not an option,” he said.
There has been a push to delist grizzlies in the Lower 48 from federal Endangered Species protection, and hand full management over to the state.
In Wyoming, that could open the door to a hunting season for grizzlies.
Mangelsen is against that, and he said there’s also a way to cut down on the number of grizzlies killed in self-defense by hunters.
“Why aren’t hunters required to carry bear spray? We have to wear seat belts,” he said.
There could also be better surveillance of livestock herds, and range riders to prevent grizzly attacks, he said.
Also, more should be done to prevent grizzlies getting hit by vehicles, when they’re tempted to feast on roadkill big game carcasses alongside highways.
There should be emphasis on “removing roadside ungulate kills ASAP. That would be simple and economical,” Mangelsen said.
“If we work together more, it would help. If agencies were more vigilant, not turning a blind eye, there would be far fewer deaths of grizzlies and we may be able even co-exist. Imagine that?” he added.
‘Not Sustainable’
Grizzly advocate Randy Rannow of Boise, Idaho, also told Cowboy State Daily that he finds the number of bear deaths alarming.
Climate change and human encroachment on grizzly habitat has led to more human-bear conflicts and potential for bear deaths, as has poor management by federal agencies, he said.
“There is ongoing feuding among USFW (Fish and Wildlife Service) and USGS scientists and ill-equipped state officials. When these people cannot even agree to what "conflict" means, we will see continued escalation of grizzly bear deaths, deaths that are preventable,” he said.
“Killing grizzlies or allowing the killing of grizzlies is not a sustainable management plan,” said Rannow, a scientist and member of International Association for Bear Research and Management.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
