BOISE, Idaho — A 5-year-old female grizzly bear was relocated Wednesday following multiple cattle depredations in the Island Park area, according to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service began trapping southeast of Henry's Lake following the livestock conflicts. Officials said a 257-pound female grizzly was captured while visiting the area Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) said the presence of other bears in the area, which does not have a history of cattle depredation, prompted the relocation decision.
The sow grizzly was relocated roughly 12 miles from the City of Island Park, in a remote area in the Fish Creek drainage on Forest Service land.
Thursday's news release said the bear was immobilized, given a body condition and health assessment, and fitted with a radio collar. IDFG said it relocated the 5-year-old grizzly in cooperation with wildlife services and the Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
Wildlife officials select relocation sites after evaluating age, sex, type of conflict involving the bear and proximity to human activity. IDFG said few sites acceptable for relocation exist due to the size of the state's recovery zone in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the inability to move bears out of state.
The department is required to inform the public when a grizzly bear is relocated. Grizzly bears are protected and relocated under state and federal laws and regulations. Idaho Fish and Game said it will monitor the animal's movements and activities.
"While not always possible, relocation is a management tool that wildlife biologists use to minimize conflicts between humans and grizzly bears," Idaho Fish and Game said Thursday.
