Jackson, Wyo. – Nine grizzly bears have been relocated from the Upper Green River Valley this year after conflicts with livestock. Environmentalists and bear biologists defend the relocations, saying they’re usually an effective way to prevent future run-ins.
A case in point is a bear that was killed in a car crash near Moran this year – 12 years after it was tranquilized, captured and relocated because of conflicts with livestock. Louisa Willcox, wild bears project director with the Natural Resources Defense Council based in Livingston, Mont., said the bear had never again threatened livestock.
That’s typical, said Mark Bruscino, a bear management officer for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, who estimated that 70 percent of relocated bears never get in trouble with wildlife managers again.
“Moving bears is an effective management tool the majority of the time,” Bruscino said.
“If we move them real quick, a lot of times they will go back to acting like a wild bear,” he said.
Why is relocating bears so effective? “My guess is being captured, transported, ear tagged, collared – it’s a very stressful experience for them, and the last thing they want to do is be near anything they associated with that event,” Bruscino said. “When you open the trap door, they make a large movement,” many fleeing 10 to 20 miles before slowing down to get their bearings.
Still, relocating bears can be controversial. Earlier this year, the Legislature passed a bill requiring Game and Fish to notify county sheriff’s departments and news outlets when a problem bear is moved into an area. Backers of the bill said the public had a right to know when a problem bear was in the area.
