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Yellowstone Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Population Doing Well, but 2007 Mortalities Highlights the Need for More Efforts to Minimize Conflicts Between Bears and People

Posted on: October 04, 2007

BOZEMAN – The Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) comprised of state and federal agencies that monitor grizzly bear population trends in the Yellowstone ecosystem, reports there were 50 unduplicated females with cubs of the year counted in the Yellowstone ecosystem during 2007. This is the second highest minimum count recorded. The previous high was 52 during 2002. There were 108 cubs observed with these 50 females during initial observations. This is a new high number of cubs observed.

According to study team leader Chuck Schwartz, ”Counts of females with cubs tend to increase following years with good whitebark pine production and fall of 2006 produced an abundant cone crop. We also tend to see more 3 cub litters following years with good cone production and 18 of the 50 litters (36%) were 3 cub litters.“ Annual numbers of females with cubs tend to be correlated with numbers of verified sightings obtained. There were 335 verified observations of females with cubs between early May and September 1st, 2007. The majority of observations were of 8 females that were very visible in Yellowstone National Park throughout the summer.

Schwartz pointed out an interesting observation, “Two of these females often seen in the Dunraven Pass-Antelope Creek drainage were apparently involved in an exchange of cubs during early August. One of these females was radio-collared and emerged from the den with 3 cubs. She was last seen with 3 cubs on August 3rd. The second female was seen with 2 cubs throughout late May to August 7th. On August 11th, a female with 4 cubs was first observed frequenting the same roadside habitats, exhibiting the same behavior, and identical in physical characteristics as the second female. On August 16th, the collared female that had had 3 cubs was seen with only 1cub. Additionally, there were no further observations of a female with 2 cubs in the area, suggesting the second female adopted 2 of the first female’s cubs. Cub adoption in grizzly bears has been documented in Yellowstone, but not since bears congregated at the open pit dumps during the 1970’s.” Park staff set hair snares and were successful in obtaining hair samples from the unmarked female and the 4 cubs. Genetics analyses on the sampled hair should reveal if this was indeed a case of adoption.

As of September 28, 2007, there have been 18 known and probable mortalities or live removals in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Live removals are considered deaths in terms of their effect on the grizzly bear population. Of these 18 deaths or live removals (9 males, 6 females, and 3 unknown sex), 8 were the result of management removals after conflicts with human activity. Two bears were hit and killed by vehicles. There have been 5 hunting-related bear deaths; 1 mistaken identity by a black bear hunter, 1 killed in a conflict over an elk carcass, and 1 female and her 2 cubs likely killed during a chance encounter with a black bear hunter. In addition there were documented 2 natural mortalities likely caused by predation by other bears inside Yellowstone Park, and 1 mortality from undetermined causes.

Seeds from whitebark pine cones are an important fall food for grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Results of a study using sulfur and nitrogen isotopes obtained from hair and blood samples of captured grizzly bears confirmed previous studies that suggested meat becomes a more important diet item during years with poor cone production. The whitebark pine cone crop was average throughout the Yellowstone ecosystem this fall. As a result, grizzly bears will likely be in search of alternative foods, one of which is ungulate (elk or deer) meat. Recreationalists, hunters, and those who live in bear country should be aware of this and take appropriate measures to avoid encounters with grizzly bears. To date, there have been several conflicts between grizzly bears and hunters and 3 have resulted in human injuries while 2 have resulted in dead bears. Hunters should attempt to secure their game the same day they harvest it, and at a minimum try to hang the carcass away from the gut pile. In many situations involving a close encounter, bear spray can be used as an effective alternative to deadly force. Hunters should also try to avoid hunting alone. Especially this year, food security and clean camps in the front and backcountry should be emphasized.

The Yellowstone Grizzly Coordinating Committee (formally Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee) will hold their annual fall meeting 24-25 October, at the Snow King Lodge, Jackson, Wyoming. The Yellowstone Grizzly Coordinating Committee includes representatives from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks; the Shoshone, Bridger-Teton, Caribou-Targhee, Gallatin, Beaverhead-Deerlodge, and Custer National Forests; the wildlife management agencies of the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Geological Survey. Representatives of the three state county governments and the Shoshone Bannock and Eastern Shoshone Tribes are also members.


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  1. i hate bears

    — michael schmit · Oct 18, 12:14 PM · #

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About Dave Langston

Outdoor writer Dave Langston resides in Chubbuck. He grew up in the Midwest and south fishing and hunting across the country.

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