Cody Griz relocated to Bridger-Teton
Close to Upper Green
June 20, 2006
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department trapped and relocated a young adult female grizzly bear from the Cody area and relocated it to the Bridger-Teton National Forest on Friday, June 16.
The bear was captured at a private residence in the South Fork of the Shoshone River area west of Cody where it had killed a bum calf that was being fed at the ranch.
The bear was relocated to a remote area in the Bridger-Teton National Forest about three miles southeast of Togwotee Pass in the North Fork of Fish Creek drainage, 1/2 mile south of Pilot Knob. This is about 10 miles north of the northern border of Sublette County and the Upper Green River area. The release site is located within currently occupied grizzly bear habitat and the Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone.
The decision was made to relocate the bear to an area that is not used for livestock production in an attempt to prevent additional depredations from occurring.
Grizzly bear relocation is a management tool afforded bear management officers to address conflicts between humans and grizzlies. The decision to relocate and the selection of a relocation site is made in close consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the survival potential of the relocated grizzlies. Bears are relocated in accordance with federal laws, regulations and policy.
When selecting a relocation site, the department and the federal agencies make every consideration to minimize the potential for future conflicts with livestock and people. Relocated bears are radio collared and their location is monitored on a regular basis. Bears normally move a considerable distance from the relocation site after released. Bears can become a nuisance after they have obtained food rewards.
The Wyoming Game & Fish Department continues to stress the importance of keeping human food, livestock feed, birdseed and other attractants unavailable to bears. Reducing attractants reduces human-bear conflicts.
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