After a high-profile grizzly bear sighting on highway 22 on Tuesday, local officials are asking the Teton County Planning Department to provide residents with information about bear-proof garbage containers and looking at the existing regulations on bear conflict areas in Comprehensive Plan.
County Commissioner Greg Epstein shared a photo of 5 grizzlies, namely Bear 399 and her offspring, walking across the field near Skyline Ranch during the morning rush hour yesterday.
Much of Teton County is labeled as Bear Conflict Priority Area One which requires that all residential and nonresidential uses shall be required to store trash in certified bear-resistant containers or dumpsters. Possible fines up to $750 per day, per offense for non-compliance could be imposed by the county.
The county published the priority area in 2008. Conflict zones were identified as those areas that overlap with, lay adjacent to, or are in close proximity to known bear-use areas, as documented by empirical research or wildlife management actions and observations with information from the Wyoming Game and Fish. The agency could seek to expand the conflict priority boundaries based on the numerous bear sightings over the last year.
The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee lists certified containers at their website.
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