Wyoming Grizzly Euthanized In Idaho

Game officials from Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services along with assistance from Idaho Department of Fish & Game yesterday trapped and euthanized a three-year old female grizzly bear that had hibernated in Island Park, traveled to a subdivision near the Idaho/Wyoming border between Victor and Driggs, Idaho this spring, and started raiding improperly secured garbage cans.  The bear had been relocated to a release site 18 miles west of Flagg Ranch last year after it had become habituated to apple orchards near Cody. Compounding the problem of the bear’s addiction to human related foods was the non-compliance of local residents with a bear sanitation ordinance that had gone into effect for Teton Valley last year.  Officials say the bear had lost all fear of people, and out of concern for human safety the US Fish & Wildlife Service authorized removal of the bear.