The Risks of Food-Conditioned Wildlife in Yellowstone Area
On Thursday, two adult grizzly bears were euthanized near Ashton Idaho.
The bears had become regular problem animals after encountering food rewards in the area north of Teton Valley.
The grizzlies, a male and a female, were about a year and a half old were food-conditioned and showed no fear of humans. This led to numerous dangerous interactions with people in which the bears displayed aggressive behavior.
Aggressive Grizzlies Killed
- Two grizzly bears were euthanized near Ashton, Idaho on Thursday.
- The bears, both about 1.5 years old, had numerous dangerous encounters with humans due to being food-conditioned.
- They showed aggressive behavior and had no fear of humans, causing public safety concerns.
- Despite efforts to haze the bears and secure attractants, they continued to seek out human food and caused damage in residential areas.
- Incidents included pushing on tents, trying to break into trailers, damaging homes, and aggressive encounters where bear spray was used.
- After collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the bears were trapped and euthanized.
- Wildlife officials emphasize the importance of securely storing bear attractants in the Greater Yellowstone area to prevent human-bear conflicts.
- Food-conditioned bears pose risks to both human and bear safety.
Idaho Game and Fish wardens said the bears had become a clear threat to public safety and made the decision to kill them.
All summer the bears were hazed to try to encourage them to leave the area. Game and Fish officers also patrolled the area and worked with landowners to secure attractants. The bears continued acquiring food rewards consisting of pet food, chicken feed and garbage.
The bears also pushed on an tent with campers inside, attempted to break into an occupied trailer, damaged homes in the area and were spotted on multiple porches.
In at least two encounters bear spray was deployed as the bears showed aggression to people.
After consulting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the bears were trapped in the Squirrel area east of Ashton and put down.
Wildlife Officials Have Been Warning People
Wildlife officials have been warning that the Greater Yellowstone area is home to both grizzlies and black bears and people need to take responsibility to make sure all bear attractants are properly stored. All residential garbage should be kept inside a garage or locked shed and pet food, animal feed, and bird seed should only be stored where bears can’t get to it.
It is the presence of residential garbage, bird seed, dog food, beehives, domestic poultry, and fruit trees that have caused human-bear conflicts in the region.
Food-conditioned bears quickly lose the fear of humans and put the lives of both people and bears at risk.
- Changes Come to Jackson Hole’s Elk Refuge Hunt - October 8, 2023
- Victor Stabbing Leads to Attempted Murder Charge - October 3, 2023
- Grizzly Shot in Self Defense Near Yellowstone - September 29, 2023
