Grizzly relocated

by Cat Urbigkit

Last Wednesday afternoon Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials confirmed a grizzly bear depredation on cattle in the Upper Green River region, according to Mark Bruscino of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

In accordance with federal guidelines, traps were set in an attempt to capture the offending animal. Evidence at the scene indicated that the bear responsible for the depredation was an adult male grizzly, but on Friday morning a small female grizzly was trapped at the scene.

Bruscino said the sub-adult female grizzly was classified as a "non-target" capture. After consulting with federal officials, state wildlife officials placed a radio-collar on the bear, and moved her to Union Pass, an area away from the livestock depredation but still within the bear's probable home range, and released her.

On Wednesday morning, Bruscino said there have been no other reported bear depredations that he was aware of, but noted WG&F will have someone on the ground in the area through the end of the week as a precaution.

In other news about federally protected predators, Mike Jimenez of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in an interview Tuesday that federal wildlife officials confirmed early this week that a wolf or wolves killed a calf on private property in the Daniel area.

Jimenez said that the depredation is under investigation, but at this point, FWS doesn't know how many wolves are involved or how many wolves are in the area.

Jimenez added that his agency had also received notice of a possible wolf depredation on domestic sheep in the Upper Green River region. He said USDA Wildlife Services officials were investigating the report.

To report wolf sightings, or problems with wolves, contact Jimenez at 307-330-5620 or 307-330-5631.