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.

​In the world of large carnivore conservation and management, relocation is a management tool that is commonly utilized. Specifically, grizzly bears are just one of several species where relocation can be “hit-or-miss.”
 
In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), bears can be relocated for a variety of reasons which range from livestock depredations, aggression, habituation, food conditioning, property damage, human safety concerns, etc. When relocating bears, certain factors must be considered to increase the chances of a successful relocation including: habitat type, food availability and variety, elevation, density in release area. When relocating bears, distance from the capture site and the prevalence of geographic barriers such as mountains, canyons, lakes, should be maximized to the fullest extent (Gunther et al. 1994).
 
Grizzly bear relocations are extremely difficult, and have yielded extremely low success rates (Riley et al. 1994, Linnell et al. 1997, Clark et al. 2002, Milligan et al. 2018) most recently documented at approximately 30% (Milligan et al. 2018). Relocation fails for several reasons which include, but not limited to:

1. Repeated conflict
2. Mortality
3. Homing ability (return to capture site)

 
The age of the bear involved  could very well influence the success of a relocation. Younger bears, or subadults, are more likely to take to a new area and establish a new home range as opposed to older bears (may use their innate homing ability to return to their original home range) (Jonkel 1993). Success with relocation is also largely dependent on where the bear is being released, and the distance from capture. Bears that captured and relocated earlier in the year (spring) and released into an area that presents a low mortality risk (little anthropogenic disturbances, roads, people, etc.) and in proximity to rivers or streams will increase relocation/translocation success (Milligan et al. 2018). Grizzlies possess a unique homing ability, which presents issues with relocation and translocation as an effective management tool. Homing often can lead to repeat conflict, including depredation, property damage or human conflict. Studies have demonstrated (Milligan et al. 2018, Blanchard et al. 1995) that return rates and homing are most influenced by the distance transported from capture. As opposed to previously reported data (Blanchard et al. 1995) bears should not be relocated any distance less than 100km, unless the management relocation was based on attractants which can either be managed or removed; distances of >200 km proved effective for inhibiting homing. Because of translocations’ lacking success, it should only be utilized as a short term solution and should be considered a final action to augment and correct a conflict situation (Blanchard et al. 1995, Milligan et al. 2018). 

Habituated behavior demonstrated by bears is usually an indication of poor people management. It is important to realize that problem bears are not born, they are made. We as humans are largely involved in creating problem bears (attractants, etc.) (Jonkel 1993). The decision to ultimately remove, euthanize or kill a bear should be a last resort. Sometimes, bears that have been poorly managed or do not take to management action, will continue to cause problems, and will inevitably need to be removed (Jonkel 1993).

Grizzly bear 155 was born in 1986, the offspring of grizzly 156. On August 9, 1988, grizzly 155 was first captured for management purposes at Bitch Creek, Teton National Forest (TNF). During the following year, 1989, he was captured again on September 9th, at Leigh Creek, TNF for management purposes. He was relocated over 100 km to the north, to Blacktail Creek, Yellowstone National Park (YNP). In 1990, 155 would cast his collar. However, on October 16, 1991, 155 was captured on Grebe Lake Road for research purposes, again being radio collared. During 1992, 155’s collar failed. Grizzly 155 would not be captured and handled again until October 11, 2004; he was captured and again collared at Antelope Creek, YNP. The subsequent year, he would cast his collar. Six-years later, on September 2, 2011, grizzly 155 was captured at Otter Creek near Hayden Valley In YNP. He was re-collared at this time, and would wear this collar until 2014, when he cast his collar for the final time. Grizzly 155 was captured on October 6, 2014 at North Fork Bear Creek, Montana (MT) for management purposes. Grizzly 155 was removed due to property damage and obtaining food rewards. At the time of removal, 155 was 28 years old; the oldest bear that has ever been documented in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) lived to be 31. In this instance, relocation proved effective for a quarter of a century.

Grizzly bear 281 was born in 1992. On August 28, 1996, grizzly 281 was captured in Pinedale, Wyoming (WY) for management purposes. He was relocated to Otter Creek near Hayden Valley, YNP. During 1998, grizzly 281's collar failed. Two years later, 281 was captured at the Grebe Pit, near Cascade Creek, YNP; 281 was fitted with a new radio collar. That same year, 281 was captured an additional two times on October 10 and 11th at Norris, YNP, but was released and not handled (bears are often released and not handled if they are a recent recapture). On August 29, 2001, grizzly 281 was captured again at the Grebe Pit near Cascade Creek, YNP. He was re-collared during this capture. Similarly to the 2000 capture, just days after 281 had been trapped, he was captured again at the Grebe Pit near Cascade Creek, YNP on August 31st. He was released without being handled. Later that year, he would cast his collar. On September 23, 2002, he was again fitted with a new collar after being captured in Norris, YNP. During the subsequent year, 2003,  281 cast his collar. He was captured on September 9, 2003 at Cascade Creek, YNP; he was not collared and was released without handling. Two years later, 281 was captured at Cascade Creek, YNP, however, again he was not collared and was released without handling. Grizzly 281 would not be captured again for another six years. During 2011, grizzly 281 was first captured September 4, 2011 and was collared. That same year, 281 was recaptured an additional five times:

1. 9/6/2011 – Cascade Creek, YNP – Recapture, and released without handling
2. 9/7/2011 – Cascade Creek, YNP – Recapture, and released without handling
3. 9/8/2011 – Cascade Creek, YNP – Recapture, and released without handling
4. 9/14/2011 – Alum Creek, YNP – Recapture, and released without handling
5. 9/17/2011 – Sour Creek, YNP – Recapture, and released without handling

 
In 2013, grizzly 281 would cast his collar. After casting his collar, grizzly 281 was captured twice during 2013 at the Grebe Pit, near Cascade Creek, YNP (June 23, 2013 and June 26, 2013). During the first capture, he was fitted with a new radio collar; during his second capture he was released without handling. After a life of extensive monitoring, grizzly 281 died on June 4, 2014 at the age of 22 near Mud Volcano, YNP. After examination, it was apparent that 281 died of natural causes, old age, and from wounds inflicted from fighting with other bears. During his life, 281 was captured 17 times (handled only 6 times, 11 times released without handling).

Sources cited:
​

1. Bjornlie, D. D., Haroldson, M. A. (2017). Chapter 5: Movements and Occupied Range. In White, P. J., Gunther, K. A., van Manen, F. T.  Yellowstone Grizzly Bears: Ecology and Conservation of an Icon of Wildness. (pp. 63-73). Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Forever, US Geological Survey.
2. Blanchard, B. M., & Knight, R. R. (1991). Movements of Yellowstone grizzly bears. Biological Conservation, 58(1), 41-67.
3. Clark, J. D., Huber, D., & Servheen, C. (2002). Bear reintroductions: lessons and challenges. Ursus, 335-345.
4. Gunther, K. A. (1994). Yellowstone National Park Bear Management Plan. National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park. pp66.
5. Linnell, J. D., Aanes, R., Swenson, J. E., Odden, J., & Smith, M. E. (1997). Translocation of carnivores as a method for managing problem animals: a review. Biodiversity & Conservation, 6(9), 1245-1257.
6. Milligan, S., Brown, L., Hobson, D., Frame, P., & Stenhouse, G. (2018). Factors affecting the success of grizzly bear translocations. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 82(3), 519-530.
7. Riley, S. J., Aune, K., Mace, R. D., & Madel, M. J. (1994). Translocation of nuisance grizzly bears in northwestern Montana. Bears: their biology and management, 567-573.

In focus: Grizzly #59
 
Life History: Grizzly #59 was born in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) during 1978. Her lineage is unknown. The Bear Management Office would first incidentally capture #59 on July 24, 1980 near Canyon, YNP as a non-target capture (management). She, however, was still relocated to Shelf Lake, YNP. One year later, the Bear Management Office captured #59, again, in Canyon, YNP for management purposes. She was relocated to Death Ridge, YNP. In 1983, her collar failed. Grizzly 59 was captured again for research purposes by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) on June 16, 1984 at Antelope Creek, YNP. That year, she was observed with two cubs-of-the-year (COY). A little more than a month later, grizzly 59 was captured again, on July 5, 1984 at Antelope Creek, YNP. During 1985, her collar would fail again. In 1985, she was also observed with no offspring, suggesting that she lost her cubs. The following year would mark the beginning of the end for grizzly #59. On September 4, 1986, she was captured in Canyon, YNP and relocated to Cub Creek, YNP for management purposes. She was accompanied by two COY at the time of her relocation. However, after arriving at Cub Creek, grizzly 59 would be observed with no offspring. In 33 days, grizzly #59 would travel westward towards Hayden Valley, YNP where she would meet her demise. On October 7th, 1986, a photographer approached grizzly #59 too closely in Hayden Valley, YNP; the bear attacked and killed the photographer. Grizzly #59 was removed  at Otter Creek, YNP for her role in the human-fatality. At the time, this marked the fifth documented fatality in Yellowstone since 1916. 

Relocation, Removal and Management Techniques:
The relocation of bears is generally used as a management technique to temporarily resolve bear/human conflict. Relocation in various aspects, has proved to be ineffective.
 
Specific guidelines have been establish by Yellowstone National Park in determining when relocation is warranted. The decision to relocate a bear must be coordinated and discussed with the Bear Management Committee. Non-target captures or bears unintentionally captured during relocation efforts will be released and not relocated. The following criteria need to be evaluated when deciding to relocate a bear:
 

1. Degree of aggression displayed or exhibited by the bear in question
2. Degree of habituation to humans, conditioning to human food
3. Past history and current disposition
4. Age, sex, and overall health of the bear
5. Area of the park the bear is causing issues (backcountry, roadside, campgrounds, etc.)
6. Human safety

 
Bears may be released or relocated outside of the park with collaboration and consultation with appropriate authorities and agencies. Additionally, bears may also be relocated from outside areas to inside Yellowstone, but only after consultation with appropriate parties.
 
To enhance the chances of successful relocation, habitat type, foods and food availability, elevation and density of bears in an area are all taken into consideration prior to relocation efforts.

​1.) Gunther, K. A. (1994). Bear management in Yellowstone National Park, 1960-93. Bears: their biology and management, 549-560.
2.) Gunther, K. A. (1994). Yellowstone National Park Bear Management Plan. National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park. pp66.

​The Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) has been radio-marking and monitoring grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) since 1975. Over the several decades of monitoring, there have been various aspects of grizzly bear ecology and biology which prove to be increasingly rare. Since 1975, the team has collared and monitored 900+ unique grizzly bears. One of the rarities that has been documented only twice since 1975 in radio-marked bears, is cubs accompanying a female for a span of longer than two-years.
 
Typically, grizzly bear females will separate from their cubs when they are two-years of age, generally in the spring. During this time, males bears actively seek out a female companion sometimes pressuring the separation of cubs from their mothers, inducing the female into estrus.
 
Another somewhat related phenomenon which actively plays a role in reproductive ecology, is sexually selected infanticide or referred to as SSI. In Yellowstone and the GYE, this has been documented on various occasions. This process is a reproductive strategy utilized among brown and black bears throughout North America, not only endemic to the GYE. It involves a dominant male being removed, or inaccessible during mating. This allows for a new subordinate male to enter the picture. The subordinate male will kill newly born cubs, or sometimes yearlings sired by the now absent dominant male. The female will then be induced into estrus, allowing her to breed earlier.
 
Grizzly bears have the lowest reproductive rates among terrestrial mammals. Generally speaking, a sexually mature female can have litters of cubs about every 2 ½ years. However, those females that retain their offspring for additional seasons throw a curveball into the picture. There are benefits for the offspring, but not so much for the female.
 
During 2008, the IGBST identified a radio-marked female, who had kept her cubs until they were 3-years-old. Grizzly #533 was one of the few radio-marked females that the study team had recorded in nearly three decades of research, to have her offspring accompany her an additional year. More recently, an unmarked sow grizzly frequenting the East Entrance of Yellowstone National Park, was also documented with a cub that accompanied her for the same duration of three-years. Based on the frequency of this phenomenon over the decades, it appears to be a rare occurrence. However, this behavior (anecdotal) seems to have become more common in the past several years (more sightings of unmarked grizzly females accompanied by subadult offspring).

On June 28, 2009, grizzly #533 had a run in with hunters.  Shots were fired, but she managed to escape unscathed. DNA evidence later confirmed that she and her COY were involved in the incident.

(http://www.thewildlifenews.com/2009/07/14/island-park-grizzly-that-attacked-hound-hunter-found-alive-and-well-with-her-3-cubs/)

In 2010, #533 was observed with two of three cubs remaining (yearlings). In 2011, she was not observed with any cubs, and she later cast her collar. In 2012, she was captured at Moonshine Mountain, CTNF and collared again. That year, she was unaccompanied by any cubs. During 2013, it would prove to be a similar repeat of 2009. Grizzly #533 was surprised from her day bed by a researcher during July 2009. She proceeded to attack the researcher, later running away from the scene.

https://idahonews.com/news/local/researcher-attacked-by-grizzly-bear-in-eastern-idaho

Later that summer, grizzly 533 was killed. She was documented as a mortality in the 2013 IGBST Annual Report as:

Unique ID: 201320
Bear: -
Sex: F
Age: Adult
Date: 2013
Location: ID
Certainty: Known
Cause: Human-caused. Under investigation.

Grizzly #533 was 21 years-old at the time of her death.

What is your favorite memory involving grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park? Do have a favorite place to observe bears? Listed below are some of the favorite memories of  viewing grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park:

Becky Benson: Watching Scarface come walking down Dunraven Pass!

Karen Gates Enderson: Too many to name BUT....2015, Hayden Valley watched a sow with twin COY on a bison carcass. 1st thing in the morning, rangers weren't even there yet.

Lwren Chandler: RASPBERRY AND SNOW

Paul Roberts: On a one week visit we seen 39 sightings of grizzly, spring or fall best time and less people!

Benny Hickerson: First trip to Yellowstone in the 90s, saw one, so excited! At least one or more every trip since. Most exciting was last year, daughter and family went with us, first trip there, son-in-law really wanting to see bears. All the disclaimers about no guarantee, etc. First day out, 7 bears in GTNP before we even got to Yellowstone! Total for trip: 6 moose, 11 bears, plus everything else. Very happy family! 

Ken Stone: Favorite viewing was watching the Hayden Sow and her two cubs swim the Yellowstone River two or three years ago. I don’t think she has been seen since that summer. ​

John Caloia: having Scarface cross the Yellowstone River and climb out and walk off towards Mary Mountain/Alum Creek area. He was pretty close to me but he paid no attention to me as there were hundreds of others around. I am sure I could run faster than 1 of the people there.

Patty Mason: We saw one Grizzly Bear from quite a distance in Hayden Valley 9/18

Linda Joy Slagowski: Seeing Scarface up on Dunraven. I'll never forget him.
 
Linda Stageberg Petry: I also saw Scarface on Dunraven in 2009. We saw him dig up a ground squirrel and make a snack out of it.
 
Carol Bittner: My first several sightings of Raspberry with her new Cubs Rocky and Snow. Pure magic. 
Every sighting since then of Raspberry and Snow including the one a couple weeks ago. While they have parted company they were still within a quarter mile of each other. I am grateful for every joy filled minute watching them. I look forward to their 2019 return.
 
Amy Halsey: Having been blessed by being able to work in the park for years and then live not far from it, I have so many wonderful memories involving grizzly bears. Here are just a few: 1) Watching a sow grizzly graze on a hillside while her two cubs played with a buffalo pie, chasing it down a hill and rolling the rest of the way - for about a half an hour. 2) As a naturalist, letting visitors watch (through a scope) a grizzly play with a fish like a cat plays with a mouse and getting to hear and see how excited they were. 3) Getting charged by a grizz at Clear Creek at the park biologists' fish traps as we came up in a canoe. 4) Summer of '82 - getting to see a grizzly hang out at Mary Bay off and on all summer (I still wonder if she was Blaze's mom) 5) The summer that wolves were reintroduced - watching a sow and cubs come upon a wolf pack, charging them and getting charged back - they all seemed quite surprised. 6) Watching grizzlies and wolves feeding on a carcass at Lamar 7) Getting to see 755, his daughter and a grizz taking turns chasing each other off a carcass. 8) Finally getting to see Raspberry and getting halfway decent photos of her. My wish is to now get to see COY next spring and maybe seeing Snow.

Des N Shirley Peadon: We share your thoughts Carol, having also seen both of these magnificent bears up close in 2017 and again in May this year. I shall find a couple of photos and post them on here.

Des N Shirley Peadon: Raspberry and Snow up on the Sylvan Pass during September 2017

Carol Bittner: They had stayed close to Nine Mile and Lake Butte Point everytime I saw them this Summer. I drove up the day snow was kicked out found her on a ridge headed towards Lake Butte point.
They were at Sedge Creek and Sedge Bay.
I am very thankful for the protection the Rangers have provided. For the professional photographers who follow them. 
And most of all the reversal of delisting. That they may return to educate and thrill Bear lovers for another season. 
I live in Cody.
Huge numbers of Bears have been killed in Park County this year.
 
Des N Shirley Peadon: ...also back in May this year, we came upon a female bear with her two yearling Cubs. Shirley and myself were the first to spot them, feeding along the Shoshoni river along the Northfork a few miles east of Pahaska. Several other people joined us. While we were there, the two yearlings started to play fight and we managed to get some cracking photos and video.
A few I am posting below.
Unfortunately, we have been told only recently by a good friend, that these three bears were among the bears you mentioned that have recently been killed by F an G !

Carol Bittner: Bless Baby Bears. Such a fun source of entertainment. Always a pleasure and privilege to watch them.
 
Tonya Wood Boyte: In 2010 we got to watch a grizzle chase some buffalo. It didn't catch them and ended up crossing the road right in front of us. I don't know which one it was but we were so excited to watch.
 
Michelle Pearson:
I have two. The first was watching the Wapiti sow and her two cubs right before she got in trouble the second time and was killed, not knowing these 2 beautiful cubs would only be wild and free for a very short time. The second was watching Scarface take a carcass from the Wapiti wolves, only to have another big griz take it from him, not knowing it would be the last time I saw him.

Dianne Hunter: End of September, 4 miles in-Pelican Valley, spotted a grizzly!
 
Susan Stevens: We'd tried for years to find bears in Yellowstone. Finally, in 2010 we hit the jackpot. We had one big grizzly cross the road right by us out at Slough Creek. Then we had this grizzly and her two cubs on Mount Washburn. Taken safely from the passenger window of my car as we drove by.

Susan Stevens: Then this May we were out in Lamar Valley (my favorite place to find grizzlies). I don't have the fancy equipment that many of the regular photographers do, but was lucky enough to have just pulled up to a parking place when this guy moved that direction. I was taking this one from over the hood of my car, standing right by the driver's side door in case he got any closer.

Des N Shirley Peadon: We also saw these same bears on three other occasions during May.

Kim Spurlock Bennett: While looking for wolves in Hayden Valley...we parked along the road and walked out into a meadow. It was foggy but we could see a grizzly bear in the valley, out in the distance (at that time...she was called Valley Girl). There was a large group of us...at least 10-12 people. We had plenty of bear spray. The fog dropped and we lost sight of her. When the fog lifted...there she was...coming up the hill toward us. We all picked up scopes & cameras and headed toward the road where our cars were parked. Cars started stopping along the road and one person yelled out to us "she is behind you and starting to run"! We picked up the pace...but didn't run...just walked as quickly as we could. We all got to the road...I jumped into the backseat of a pick-up truck that stopped in the road. My husband didn't have a chance to get in...he moved toward the front bumper of the pick up truck as the grizzly bear crossed the road at the rear bumper of the pick-up truck. Looking back on it...there was such a large group of us...we probably could have huddled together and gotten over to the side of the meadow...she just wanted to cross the road. That was in September 2015...we have never seen her again and have often wondered what happened to her.

Chris Hartzell: I don't know where this article is showing, but with today's disrespectful tourists and overwhelming numbers trying to find wildlife, I find it in the best interest of everyone not to publicize locations of key animal species.

Natalie T. Bergholz: OOPS Tyler Brasington. I just saw this post

For me every wildlife sighting is a gift!
We humans can learn a lot from wildlife!

We were able to identify 663 from the following information:

• During 2010, three grizzlies were collared in the Lamar Valley/Junction Butte area: 661, 662, 663.
  • 661 -> captured 9/20/2010 at Buffalo Plateau, YNP (no cubs); 2011 = 1 COY, 2012 = 1 yearling, cast collar
  • 662 -> captured 10/1/2010 at Jasper Creek, YNP (2 COY at capture); 2011 = no cubs, 2012 = 2 COY, lost 2 COY, mortality (dead)
  • 663 -> captured 10/2/2010 at Jasper Creek, YNP (no cubs); 2011 = no cubs, 2012 = 2 COY, lost 2 COY, 2013 = no cubs, cast collar
    • In 2012, she was observed with 2 cubs. Before dropping her collar, at the beginning of May 2013, a grizzly fitted with a radio collar was observed near Junction Butte in Little America of Yellowstone National Park. At this time, 663 would be the only active female collar in that proximity (661 had no collar, 662 was deceased). Later that month, she shed her collar. Based upon the life history of bears radio collared in the Lamar Valley region, we concluded this bear was 663.​

During 2015 while in the backcountry in and around Glacier National Park, I had several documented encounters with grizzlies of the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE). One grizzly I came across, was not even 3 miles from the Canadian border. At some point in this bears life, it most likely crossed the border between Canada and the United States, completely un-phased and without care. In their world, a grizzly is a grizzly; they know no borders or boundaries!

The first successfully radio instrumented grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. Grizzly No. 40 or called "Marian" by John & Frank Craighead. The bear was named after the engineers' wife who designed the collar transmitter.
The Craighead brothers were the pioneers of grizzly bear research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Their successful implementation and deployment of radio collars on grizzly bears revolutionized the ability to track free roaming populations of animals in the wild.
Photo credit: Frank & John Craighead

Example In the spotlight- Grizzly 781: During 2006, grizzly 781 was born in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). On June 11, 2009, at three-years old, 781 was captured, near Deadman Creek in the Shoshone National Forest (SNF). Grizzly 781 was not collared during this capture. Five-years would pass until he would again be captured, this time for management purposes. Unfortunately, the bear found himself in a far too common predicament: livestock depredation. Nearly 90 miles away from where he was initially captured in 2009, Grizzly 781 was the culprit of a cow mortality near Red Lodge, MT. He was captured and collared at Grove Creek, MT by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks and U.S. Department of Agriculture - Wildlife Services on July 15, 2014. He was relocated and released near Lodgepole Creek, MT near the Gallatin Range. Grizzly 781  cast his collar in September 2014 in the Gallatin National Forest. In 2018, grizzly 781 would be 12 years-old.



The real question is:  How can we prevent livestock depredation and avoid unnecessary grizzly bear mortality related to livestock grazing operations? What can we learn from grizzly 781 and other bears involved in livestock depredation?

​Livestock Conflict and Mortality: “Identifying the locations and causes of grizzly bear mortality is another key component in understanding the dynamics of this population. Over 80% of all documented bear mortalities are human-caused. Tracking human-caused bear deaths helps define patterns and trends that can direct management programs designed to reduce bear mortality.” – Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST)
 
Between the years 2012 and 2016, a total of 459 livestock conflicts with grizzly bears were documented and related to commercial livestock grazing on federal lands in the GYE. During these years, 22 of the 459 conflicts on federal lands resulted in grizzly bear mortality, which means 5% of these conflicts proved to be fatal for the bear involved. Over the 4-year span, the IGBST recorded a total 232 mortalities from all causes (natural, roadkill, defense of life and property, livestock conflict & depredation, etc.) Livestock related mortalities related to commercial livestock grazing on federal lands account for 9% of total mortality during 2012-2016.  
 
With over 80% of all documented mortalities resulting from us humans, it is important to find potential ways to mitigate and avoid grizzly bear conflict. Whether that is the deployment or implementation of electric fences, range riders, or even the easy implementation of bear spray for hunters and recreationalists, finding areas where mortality can be reduced is important.
 
Livestock grazing operations have several options to prevent depredation or conflict with grizzly bears. In operations where rearing may occur, animals that give birth, must be securely confined, housed, and protected to reduce risk of bear attraction. The removal of all afterbirth and carcass materials is especially important. Electric barriers around confined livestock units are strongly encouraged for deterring bears. Fencing is an important component while protecting livestock. The implementation of electric wires into fencing is very effective at deterring bears. Electric fences should be composed of 9 wires and begin approximately 4 inches from the ground (Dohner, J. V., 2017). "Range riding" is another potential alternative to providing security to free-ranging livestock. Deceased cattle and livestock also serve as an attractant for grizzly bears. It is important for commercial livestock owners and operators to regularly remove or relocate any carcasses from areas containing "active" healthy livestock, to reduce the risk of depredation. In eligible counties within Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, Defenders of Wildlife will compensate 50% of the cost for electric fencing to prevent grizzly bear access to livestock, attractants (garbage, orchards, beehives).
 
One important piece of information: notice on the map (Fig.1) the location of mortalities. During 2012-2016, 19 of 22 mortalities related to commercial livestock grazing on federal lands were located within a 15-mile radius of one another (near Wind River Range). A possible management consideration going into the future would be providing incentives for commercial livestock owners and agricultural operations who take precautionary and recommended measures to secure livestock and livestock attractants (grain, feed, etc.)

​Yellowstone National Park is comprised of 3,472 mi2 (8991 km2), or 2,221,766 acres. The park’s boundaries lie 96% in the state of Wyoming, 3% in Montana and 1% in Idaho. Yellowstone has five park entrances, leading to 466 miles of road (310 miles paved). Less than 1% of Yellowstone’s landscape is covered by roads. In Yellowstone, there are approximately 150 (conservative) grizzly bears whose home ranges are completely, or partially inside of the park.
 
Some areas of the park, roadways run through highly desired and preferred grizzly bear habitat. Some bears become habituated to human-presence by hanging along the roadsides. Habituation can be defined as when bears become accustomed and experience no threat from human activity consistently and frequently, they begin to expect the same pattern time and time again, and react with very little response (Knight and Cole 1995). Habituation is not always a terrible thing, especially with grizzly bears. Habituation will allow bears to use areas with high human presence and activity, which has been demonstrated to increase habitat effectiveness (Herrero et al. 2005). In Yellowstone, this sort of behavior is commonly observed, where some wildlife, and bears may be subject to seeing thousands, if not millions of visitors each year and over the course of their lifetime. In this sort of environment, bears will adapt and acclimate to the presence and activities of visitors if seen at a great enough frequency. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park’s beginning in the 1990’s shifted their focus from managing the bears, to managing the people. Instead of trapping, relocating, and hazing bears, park staff began to ensure that visitors were in compliance at bear jams and exhibiting predictable behavior. This strategy has been in place for 25 years (1990-2014) (Gunther et al. 2015). Over the past quarter century, both Yellowstone and Grand Teton have experience increasing levels of bear habituation in roadside habitats, leading to an increase in “bear-jams” (Haroldson & Gunther 2013).
 
However, while habituation allows an increase in habitat effectiveness and allows for satisfying visitor experience, it does create a dangerous and unbeknownst situation for the wildlife, a double-edged sword. Bears and cars don’t mix typically. If bears become habituated, it can pose a risk for vehicle accidents. Habituation may not always be the case for grizzly presence near the roadways. Transient bears may use the roadways as a travel corridor, or even crossing to get from place to place. Sometimes after emerging from hibernation, bears may use the roads in an effort to conserve energy expenditure when snow is still deep (same with other wildlife such as bison).
 
Between 2009 and 2018, 25 grizzly bears were documented road-kill mortalities by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). Of the 25 bears, 19 were male, 5 were female and 1 was unknown; 11 were subadults, 4 were yearlings, 3 cubs-of-the-year (COY), 6 adults, and 1 unknown. In Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) 4 grizzlies were documented and in Yellowstone National Park 4 grizzlies were documented. Outside of the national parks, 8 grizzlies were documented roadkill mortalities in Montana, 8 in Wyoming and 1 in Idaho. The IGBST reports that 80% of grizzly bear mortalities are human-caused. This includes but not limited to: roadkill, natural death, defense of life and property (DLP), hunting, mistaken identity (black bear hunt). From 2009 until 2018, 429 grizzlies have been documented mortalities, of which roadkill mortality accounts for approximately 6%. The other 94% consist of DLP, natural, hunting, mistaken identity. As visitation increases, it is likely (anecdotal) that roadkill mortalities may increase. More grizzlies on average are killed every year as a result of self-defense while hunting than motor vehicle accidents; this was the case between 2009-2018 (IGBST Annual Morality Reports 2009-2018)