Yellowstone Insider Your Complete Guide to America's First National Park
The Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) will start trapping grizzly and black bears around Yellowstone National Park next week.
According to an IGBST press release, the team will be trapping bears from May 21 to July 30, 2018. IGBST members will be radio-collaring and collecting scientific samples from the bears. All bears trapped will be released following collaring and/or sample gathering. From the IGBST release:
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 bears is part of a long-term research and monitoring effort to help wildlife managers devise and implement programs to support the ongoing conservation of Yellowstone’s grizzly bear and black bear populations.
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.
If you’re interested in learning more about the IGBST and their research, please call 406-994-6675 for more information.
