Trapping Grizzly Bears to Begin in Upper Snake Region

Each summer, Idaho Fish and Game and the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team join resources in pursuit of the Upper Snake Region's largest carnivores. While trouble bears are sometimes trapped for management and removal purposes, the focus of this trapping effort is scientific and part of the ongoing monitoring required for managing a delisted grizzly bear population in Idaho's portion of the Yellowstone Ecosystem. Grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Ecosystem were removed from the endangered species list in early 2007. Culvert and snare traps will be set at various locations in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. The traps are baited with wild game to prevent the bears becoming accustomed to human produced food. Forest users should steer clear of any area marked with trapping alert signs. Once bears are trapped, their vital statistics are measured and recorded, and blood and DNA samples are taken. All bears are tattooed, given ear tags, and fitted with some type of tracking collar. The newest generation of collars record specific date and location information using GPS, identical to navigational aids found in autos and used by recreationists. Usually trapping efforts cover a general area to survey bear activity, but this year an exception is being made to try and trap a specific grizzly bear that was shot at during an unexpected encounter with a hunter this summer. "Our first priority is to capture grizzly bear 533 and put a new radio collar on her and check her overall health," said Daryl Meints, regional wildlife manager. The collar on bear 533 is three years old and approaching the end of its battery life. Because she is a female with cubs, 533 is an important bear in the overall recovery plan and biologists want to make sure she is in good shape. Information gathered by the states and the grizzly bear study team is collected, analyzed, and presented at the spring meeting of the Yellowstone Grizzly Coordinating Committee. The committee is the multi-state, multi-agency group responsible for oversight of the delisted grizzly bear population in the Yellowstone Ecosystem and replaced the Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee, which was responsible for working to recover the grizzly in the Yellowstone Ecosystem. To learn more about all facets of grizzly bear recovery in the Lower 48, go to: www.igbconline.org.