A Snapshot In Time: Five Selected Life Histories of Yellowstone Grizzlies

Photo: Grizzly bear 211 walking through the snow in Yellowstone National Park. Photo taken by Ray Paunovich, Wild Planet Film Foundation

Over the past three decades, nearly 1000 grizzly bears have been captured, collared, tagged and monitored by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team. The purpose and objective of this abbreviated summary, is to provide insight to the lives of five selected grizzly bears who called Yellowstone National Park and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) their home​.

Grizzly 673
 
Grizzly 673 was first captured for research purposes on June 10, 2011 at Papoose Creek, MT. This male bear was collared during the time of his capture. During 2012, 673 cast his collar, likely in the Gallatin National Forest. Grizzly 673 would be 20 years old in 2019.

​Grizzly 323
 
Grizzly 323 has been captured nine times throughout his life. As a two-year old, 323 was captured on October 4, 1998 in Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park (YNP). He was not collared during this capture, but fitted with a radio transmitter. When he was captured on October 4, 2001, he was not collared and released on site. The subsequent year, he was captured September 7, 2002 at the Mesa Pit, YNP. This time, 323 was fitted with a radio collar. On July 26, 2003, he was again captured. Two months later on September 11, 2003, grizzly 323 was captured at the Mesa Pit, YNP. In 2003, grizzly 323 would cast his collar. Between 2007 and 2010, grizzly 323 was captured four more times. Twice during 2007 and twice during 2010. During 2007, he was captured on April 24 and then again on May 1 at Fountain Freight Road, YNP. During 2010, grizzly 323 was captured on October 13 and 14 at Mesa Pit, YNP; 323 was radio collared. The following day when he was trapped again, he was released on site. Grizzly 323 would be 23 years old in 2019.

​Grizzly 394
 
Grizzly 394 was first captured on July 29, 2001 at Klondike Creek, Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) for management purposes. He was radio collared and later relocated to Mormon Creek, Shoshone National Forest (SNF). Grizzly 394 would sport that collar for nearly two-years before casting it during October 2003. Nearly eight years later, 394 was captured on September 4, 2011 at Cascade Creek, YNP. At the time of capture, he was radio collared.
 
During 2011, a heavy trapping effort ensued after the fatal attacks of two Yellowstone hikers John Wallace and Brian Matayoshi (Hayden Valley). During the trapping effort to locate the bear(s) responsible, 394 was captured four times in 12 days (9/4, 9/6, 9/15, 9/16). All captures were at Cascade Creek, YNP with the exception of the capture that occurred on 9/16 which took place at Otter Creek, YNP. The following year, 2012, grizzly 394 cast his collar. During 2014, grizzly 394 was captured on September 11 at Cascade Creek, YNP and fitted with a new style collar: the Lotek Iridium Camera Collar. During 2016, 394 was captured on September 22,  and released on site. The subsequent year, 2017, grizzly 394 was captured September 26 at Jasper Creek, YNP in the Lamar Valley. However, at some point during the year, 394 cast his collar. As of 2019, grizzly 394 is 23 years old.

​Grizzly 84
 
Grizzly 84 was first captured on May 28, 1982 at Nez Perce Creek, YNP for research purposes. He was fitted with a standard radio collar at the time he was captured and handled. That same year, 1982, grizzly 84 shed and cast his collar. Two years later, on May 24, 1984, grizzly 84 was captured again at Nez Perce Creek, YNP. He was again fitted with a radio collar; he would later cast in that same year. During his capture in 1984, grizzly 84 was 22 years old; his status is deceased.

​Grizzly 450
 
Grizzly 450 was first captured October 16, 2003 at Antelope Creek, YNP and radio collared. The following year, 450 cast his collar. Four years later in 2008, grizzly 450 was captured for management purposes at Crevice Creek, MT.  Grizzly 450 was collared and relocated to Arnica Creek, YNP. Grizzly 450 cast his collar in 2009. In 2019 grizzly 450 would be 23 years old.