Yellowstone National Park Removes Grizzly Bear for Accessing Human Food

Yellowstone National Park staff trapped and killed an 11-year-old, 400-pound male grizzly bear on May 14, 2025, after it repeatedly accessed human food and trash in developed areas. From April 3 to May 13, the bear overturned 800-pound bear-resistant dumpsters near Old Faithful, Nez Perce Picnic Area, and Midway Geyser Basin, and uprooted smaller trash cans from concrete bases. The bear’s food-conditioned behavior posed a public safety risk, prompting its removal to prevent further habituation among bears in high-traffic park areas.

Bear Management Biologist Kerry Gunther noted that despite extensive efforts to protect bears with bear-resistant infrastructure, the bear outsmarted defenses, necessitating its removal. This marks the first such action since September 2017, when a grizzly was killed for damaging tents and accessing food at Heart Lake. Yellowstone provides bear-resistant storage in campgrounds, backcountry sites, and garbage facilities, urging visitors to use these to prevent wildlife conflicts. More information on bear safety is available on the park’s website.

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