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Grizzly, Black Bears To Be Trapped In Yellowstone National Park For Research

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Wildlife biologists will be working in Yellowstone over the next three months to trap grizzly and black bears for a population study/NPS

Beginning Sunday and continuing through July, wildlife biologists will be trapping black and grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park for ongoing research into the bear populations in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

The research is required under the Endangered Species Act to monitor the population of grizzly bears in the ecosystem. Overseeing the research is the U.S. Geological Survey and Yellowstone staff along with biologists from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team.

Team members will bait and trap bears at several remote sites within Yellowstone National Park. Once trapped, the bears are anesthetized 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.

None of the trap sites in the park will be located near any established hiking trails or backcountry campsites, and all trap sites will have posted warnings for the closure perimeter. Potential access points will also be posted with warning signs for the closure area. Backcountry users who come upon any of these posted areas need to heed the warnings and stay out of the area.

The Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team was established in 1973 to collaboratively monitor and manage ecosystem bears on an interagency basis. The gathering of critical data on the protected bears is part of a long-term research effort required under the Endangered Species Act to help wildlife managers devise and implement programs to support the ongoing recovery of Yellowstone’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 research efforts call (406) 994-6675.

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