CODY (WNE) –   After consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department captured and relocated an adult male grizzly bear on May 4.

According to a G&F news release, the bear was captured for killing cattle on private land and relocated to the Sunlight creek drainage approximately 30 miles from the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

Grizzly bear relocation is a management tool large carnivore biologists use to minimize conflicts between humans and grizzly bears. It is critical to managing the expanding population of grizzly bears in Wyoming.

Capture is necessary when other deterrent or preventative options are exhausted or unattainable. Once the animal is captured, all circumstances are taken into account when determining if the individual should be relocated.

If relocation is warranted, a site is determined by considering the age, sex, and type of conflict the bear was involved in as well as potential human activity nearby.

Grizzly bears are only relocated into areas already occupied by other grizzly bears.

With any relocation, G&F consults with appropriate agencies to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the relocated grizzly bear’s survival.

G&F continues to stress the importance of the public’s responsibility in bear management and the importance of keeping all attractants such as food, garbage, horse feed, bird seed unavailable to bears. Reducing attractants available to bears reduces human-bear conflicts, and in some cases, relocations.

For more information on grizzly bear management and reducing the potential for conflicts please visit the Bear Wise Wyoming.