Grizzly killed in Wyoming Range

by Cat Urbigkit

A grizzly bear was killed in the Deadman Mountain area of the Wyoming Range Mountains last weekend, but officials are keeping their mouths shut about the incident while a federal investigation takes place. The incident was the first official agency confirmation of a grizzly in the Wyoming Range in about a decade. It occurred within the boundary of the Greys River Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest in northern Lincoln County.

Unconfirmed reports indicate a private individual had accompanied a U.S.D.A. Wildlife Services trapper into the area with hounds in an attempt to control a bear that had been preying on sheep in the region. The two men allegedly encountered the bear and the ensuing incident left the grizzly dead. The Wildlife Services official confirmed that the animal was indeed a grizzly, proving that the Wyoming Range did indeed harbor at least one of the federally protected bruins.

Bridger-Teton National Forest officials referred questions to federal investigators, who declined to provide any information. Wildlife Services officials both in the Rock Springs District office and in the agency's state office in Casper referred questions to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. WG&F's bear management officer Brian DeBolt declined to talk about the Wyoming Range incident, but noted within the last decade, his agency did confirm the presence of a grizzly as far south as the Hoback Rim, which is about a dozen miles north and about 25 miles east of the Deadman Mountain area.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent Roy Brown of Lander declined to provide any information about the incident, stating only that the case is under investigation and once the investigation is complete, he'll turn over his report to the United States Attorney Matt Mead, who will make the decision if a prosecution is justified.