Relocated Grizzlies Roam Wyoming’s Wilderness, Show Signs of Adaptation

Two young grizzly bears relocated from Montana to Wyoming earlier this year are making themselves at home in their new surroundings, according to recent tracking data shared by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), MissoulaCurrent.com reports.

The two subadult bears — one male and one female — have been exploring the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) in distinctly different ways.

The bears, aged between three and five years old, were fitted with tracking collars before their release, allowing wildlife officials to monitor their movements. Since then, their wanderings have been visually compared to the colorful, chaotic lines of a child’s crayon drawing on a map.

The male bear has established a relatively compact range near his release site south of Yellowstone Lake, with his GPS tracklines showing concentrated movement within a 20-mile radius. The female, however, has taken a more adventurous approach. Her path has spanned large areas of northwest Wyoming, taking her to the shores of Jackson Lake near Grand Teton National Park, looping around Yellowstone Lake nearly twice, and even crossing into eastern Idaho and Montana before returning to Yellowstone.

“We are very pleased to see that both bears have remained in the GYE, even staying mostly within remote areas of the Recovery Zone,” said Cecily Costello, a grizzly bear researcher with FWP. “It’s not always easy for a bear to adjust after being moved like this, but they seem to be settling in. We believe both have recently found a den site for the winter.”

The two bears were originally captured in July near Montana’s Middle Fork Flathead River, part of the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE), before being relocated to Wyoming’s GYE. Both ecosystems are considered critical habitats for grizzly bear conservation under the Endangered Species Act, and officials believe the relocation may help strengthen genetic diversity between the distinct populations.

According to Ken McDonald, head of FWP’s wildlife division, the decision to move the two subadults was strategic. At their age, grizzlies are often searching for a permanent home range, making them more likely to remain near their relocation site.

“This just jump-starts what very likely will also happen naturally,” McDonald said.

The hope is that increased movement between distinct grizzly populations will improve genetic diversity and contribute to the species’ long-term health.

Grizzlies in the Lower 48 states remain listed as a threatened species under the federal Endangered Species Act. There are six official recovery zones for grizzly populations across the northwestern United States, including the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide Ecosystems. While populations in these two ecosystems have grown steadily, there has been no documented movement of bears between the two areas until this recent relocation effort.

Wildlife officials in Montana and Wyoming have pledged to continue monitoring the bears and their genetics. If successful, the program could be a model for future efforts aimed at increasing connectivity between grizzly populations.

“That these bears are exploring their new ecosystem and seem to be doing well is an indication that they’ll thrive in their new environment,” McDonald said. “It also reflects the commitment Montana has to grizzly bear conservation.”

Beyond conservation goals, the successful relocation may have broader implications. Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho officials have petitioned the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to delist grizzlies from the Endangered Species Act, a move that would return management authority to the states. The states argue that grizzly populations have met recovery goals and that human-bear conflicts can be better managed at the state level.

The FWS is expected to issue a decision on grizzly protections for the two largest ecosystems — the GYE and the NCDE — by the end of January. However, conservation groups remain divided on the issue.

Just last week, a coalition of 15 environmental and animal welfare groups submitted a petition urging the FWS to revise its Grizzly Bear Recovery Plans. The petition draws on a report by former FWS grizzly recovery manager Chris Servheen, who argued that grizzlies remain vulnerable despite population increases. His report pointed to increased predator control efforts by states as a threat to the species.