Grizzly Bear Research Trapping to Begin in Grand Tetons

Biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) plan to conduct scientific research and trapping operations within Grand Teton National Park as part of ongoing efforts required under the Endangered Species Act to collect data and monitor the population of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). These operations will begin Tuesday, May 27 and continue through October 15, 2014. Monitoring of grizzly bear distribution, as well as their food selection and other activities, is vital to recovery of grizzlies across the GYE.

Trained professionals with the IGBST will bait and trap bears at remote sites across Grand Teton National Park. Once trapped, grizzly bears are sedated to allow wildlife biologists to radio-collar and collect scientific samples for study. All trapping and handling are done in accordance with strict protocols developed by the IGBST.

Trap sites will not be located near established hiking trails or backcountry campsites, and all sites will be posted with bright-colored warning signs around the closure perimeter. Potential access points will also be posted with warning signs. All backcountry users who come upon any of these posted areas must obey the warnings and stay out of the closure area. It is critical that all members of the public respect these warning signs.

The Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team was established in 1973 to research and monitor bears across the GYE in a collaborative effort between federal land managers and state wildlife agencies. Gathering of critical data on these protected bears is part of a long-term research effort to help wildlife managers devise and implement programs to support the ongoing recovery of the GYE's grizzly bear population.

The IGBST is composed of representatives of the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribal Fish and Game Department, and the states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

For more information regarding grizzly bear trapping, you can call IGBST at 1-406-994-6675.



Jeff
Hiking in Glacier National Park

Rethinking recreation in grizzly country

Last week a very thought provoking article by Heather Hansen was published in High Country News. In the article Heather discusses the two fatal grizzly bear attacks in Yellowstone National Park last summer, and the steady rise in grizzly bear numbers and bear-human conflicts in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

In the process of concluding her article, Ms. Hansen poses this question:

"Should more trails with “high grizzly density” be off-limits to the public?"

She then writes:

"If outright closures are unacceptable, the park might consider the Parks Canada approach to mitigating bear-human conflict in seasonally-important grizzly habitat in Banff National Park. Special permits are required for hiking in certain areas, along with a minimum of four hikers per party. At least one member of the group must carry bear spray and keep it accessible at all times. Violators could pay a $25,000 fine. The parks might help by dedicating space on their website to “trail-pooling” for solo or pairs of hikers to form groups."

One other approach to consider, but not mentioned, is to offer ranger-led hikes in areas where grizzlies are known to frequent. This system seems to work well in Glacier National Park. In areas where the presence of grizzlies is especially dangerous, limit all hiking to only ranger-led hikes.

What are your thoughts? Should we as owners of our national parks be allowed to hike anywhere at anytime? Is our society becoming too risk averse? Or is it the responsibility of experts to protect the lives of both humans and bears?

To read the entire article, please click here.


Jeff
Hiking in Glacier.com