Grizzly bears translocated from NCDE to GYE, providing genetic augmentation

The subadult female grizzly bear wasn't hanging around to wait for the trap door to open all the way. She was done with confinement.

With the buzz of a drone above her and the Wyoming high country in front of her, she bounded out the culvert-shaped trap when the door was only halfway up. Before her was the wild heart of Wyoming, an entire state away from where she had lived just one day prior.

This female grizzly bear, all 204 pounds of her, represents a coordinated and intensive effort several years in the making to move a bear from the population in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) in northwest Montana, to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), spanning parts of southwest Montana, eastern Idaho and northwest Wyoming. The effort centered on the desire to establish gene flow between the two ecosystems. Isolated from other populations in the region, the GYE grizzly bear population could benefit from the introduction of additional genetic material. As estimated occupied range of the two populations draws closer, the chances of bears moving between them increases. But no evidence of immigration has been observed to date.

Last week, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks captured two grizzly bears in the NCDE. One was a 3- to 4-year-old female. The other was a 4- to 5-year- old male. Collaborating with partners from the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, they released the female west of Dubois, Wyo., on July 30. Working with the National Park Service, they released the male in the remote south end of Yellowstone National Park on July 31.

The hope is these two bears from the NCDE will establish residency and successfully reproduce in the GYE, adding to the genetic diversity of the Yellowstone population. Both bears wear GPS collars to allow agency biologists to monitor their locations.

Montana FWP

Last week, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks captured two grizzly bears in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) and released them into the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE).

"With these two bears on the ground in the GYE, we see the culmination of a tremendous amount of effort at ensuring Montana has done all we've been asked to do to ensure these recovered populations persist into the future and to convince the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that we're ready to take over grizzly bear management of recovered populations in Montana," said FWP Director Dustin Temple.

For years, bear management in Montana, particularly around the NCDE and the GYE, has focused on managing an ever-growing population of bears as recovery levels in the two ecosystems were passed years ago. Montana has petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist bears in the NCDE, and Wyoming, with support from Montana and Idaho, has petitioned to delist grizzly bears in the GYE.

In both ecosystems, the states have met the delisting requirements and addressed concerns identified by the public or lined out by the courts through various proceedings that have overturned previous delisting. Those elements include:

Reaching population recovery

Having conflict prevention and response programs in place

Continuing with research and monitoring

Establishing a regulatory framework for managing grizzly bears once delisted

Continuing with education and outreach about grizzly bears

Safeguarding genetic health

FWP is also committed to managing populations to provide opportunities for natural movements between the various ecosystems in Montana.

The road to this point has taken many different twists and turns (for a complete background of what FWP has done to get here, read this article from Montana Outdoors.) This translocation effort took a big step forward when the 2023 Legislature, with support from Gov. Gianforte, provided resources specifically for this purpose.

Montana FWP

Biologists were looking for young, healthy bears with no history of conflict.

This summer FWP hired two new staff to help with the capture effort specifically looking for bears to move from the NCDE to the GYE. Biologists weren't just looking for any bear to move. It had to be the right bear – young, healthy and with no history of conflict. Subadult bears are considered the most suitable candidates for translocation, because most have not yet established their permanent home range and might adjust better to the move. After about two months of trapping, with several bears considered but excluded as candidates, FWP trapped two bears that fit the bill within two days.

"We never expected to be moving two bears back-to-back, but we were prepared with a large multi-agency team of professionals ready to capture, collar, transfer and release the bears all while ensuring their safety and health," said FWP grizzly bear researcher Cecily Costello. "I am so grateful for everyone's hard work and dedication to the welfare of these two bears."

The bears were trapped southwest of east Glacier in a remote area of the Middle Fork of the Flathead River drainage.

"Besides capturing a bear of the right age, we tried to focus capture efforts in remote areas where local bears would have minimal experiences with humans. We hope this will enhance their success," Costello said.

They were both transported through the night to avoid the heat of the day. The subadult male bear was hauled by boat to the southern end of Yellowstone Lake. The subadult female was taken to a remote location in the Blackrock Creek drainage west of Dubois. Given these were ESA-listed bears, the USFWS approved the trapping effort and the translocation of both bears.

Montana FWP

The hope is these two bears from the NCDE will establish residency and successfully reproduce in the GYE.

To watch a video about the project, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wY7b-nL4R8.