On August 13, 2024, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) relocated an adult male grizzly bear after it was determined that the bear had killed a domestic calf near Highway 20 and the Buffalo River. The decision to relocate the bear was made in consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
The grizzly, an 11-year-old male previously collared for research, was captured the same evening it returned to the site of the calf’s remains. This bear had no prior history of conflict. After its capture, the bear was immobilized, given a health assessment, and fitted with a radio collar for monitoring. It was then relocated to a remote area in the Fish Creek drainage, approximately 12 miles from the City of Island Park, on Forest Service land.
Grizzly bear relocations are conducted under state and federal regulations, and IDFG is required to inform the public of these actions. Relocation is one of the tools used by wildlife biologists to minimize conflicts between humans and bears. The location for each relocation is carefully selected based on factors such as the bear’s age, sex, and the nature of the conflict, as well as the proximity to human activity.
IDFG, in cooperation with USFWS and the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, will continue to monitor the bear’s movements and activities following the relocation.
