Grizzly Bear Relocated After Killing Calf Near Cody

An adult female grizzly was trapped and relocated by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department on Sept. 1, 2011. Officials report that the bear, who had killed a calf on private lands northwest of Cody, was released in the Calf Creek drainage about 13 miles west of the South Entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

The release site is located within currently occupied grizzly bear habitat and grizzly bears are present throughout the area. Bears are capable of moving long distances over a short time period and a relocated bear is not expected to remain near the release site according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

The move was done in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department uses grizzly bear relocation to minimize conflicts between humans and grizzlies.

Decisions to relocate as well as the selection of a relocation site are made taking into consideration the age, sex, and type of conflict the bear was involved in. Grizzly bears are listed as "Threatened" under the Endangered Species Act, meaning consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the appropriate land management agency is also conducted to minimize the chance of future conficts and maximize the survival potential of the relocated grizzles.