CAUTION: That dead elk in Yellowstone could be grizzly bear bait

0 0 2 minutes read

CAUTION: That dead elk in Yellowstone could be grizzly bear bait

https://www.profitableratecpm.com/f4ffsdxe?key=39b1ebce72f3758345b2155c98e6709c

It’s always important to heed legitimate signs, but between May 1 and October 15 in Yellowstone National Park it will be especially important. These signs will help visitors avoid encounters with the friendly-but-not-too-friendly member of the local wildlife.

“It is essential that all members of the public heed these signs,” the national park stressed in a recent press release.

Yellowstone National Park is home to both grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) and black bears (American Ursus), with 150 to 200 grizzly bears spending at least some time in the park. Grizzly bears are a subspecies of the brown bear (Ursus arctos). They are generally larger and, as the scientific name suggests, much more aggressive.

The Endangered Species Act has listed grizzly bears as threatened, although their estimated population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has made a tremendous comeback. In 1975, they were estimated at 136; by 2024, this figure had increased to 1,030.

The park also announced it will capture a few of these bears for research purposes starting this week, as part of ongoing monitoring efforts to document the recovery of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

“…Pre-baiting and scientific capture operations are once again about to begin in Yellowstone National Park,” the release said.

The Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) has been capturing and radio-collaring grizzly bears for half a century. Biologists with IGBST lure them to potential capture sites with natural food like elk and road-killed deer. If there are signs of grizzly bears nearby, the team uses foot snares or culvert traps to catch them. It goes without saying that visitors should not wander near these places.

“Whenever bear trapping activities are conducted for scientific purposes, the area around the site will be marked with brightly colored warning signs to inform the public of the activities taking place,” according to the release. “These signs are posted along major access points to the capture site. It is important that the public pay attention to these signs and do not venture into an area that has been posted.”

In other words, follow the rules, otherwise your day hike might become unbearable.