Biologists from the U.S. National Park Service and U.S. Geological Survey will begin black and grizzly bear capture operations in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway on May 24, 2025, continuing through October 15. The efforts support black bear research in the park and grizzly bear population monitoring across the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, led by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team to document recovery under the Endangered Species Act. Trap sites, baited with natural food like road-killed elk, will be placed away from roads, trails, and campsites, and marked with bright warning signs indicating closures.
The public must stay out of posted areas to ensure safety for both bears and humans. Captured bears are handled under strict safety and animal care protocols, then released on-site after recovery. Data collected informs conservation and management of bear populations. For more information on grizzly bear monitoring, visit the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team’s website at usgs.gov/science/interagency-grizzly-bear-study-team.
