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A black bear hunter mistakenly killed a grizzly bear on national forest land near Teton Village a little over a week ago, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special agent Roy Brown.
Although Teton Village is nestled in prime black bear habitat, the dead grizzly may count as the first confirmed sighting near the ski resort in more than 2 decades and probably longer. said Doug Crawford, a Wyoming Game And Fish Department warden. Crawford has handled black bear conflicts in Teton Village for the past 23 years.
The grizzly, which had been spotted in Teton village before the hunter encounter, is another sign of the species' expansion south, Crawford said.
Moreover, grizzlies are more likely to explore new territory during poor food years, Crawford said. This grizzly could be a harbinger of what's to come if drought conditions continue and the natural foods available to bears are limited, according to Brown and Crawford.
If one bear makes it down, why isn't the next one going to make it down ? Crawford said.
Few details are available about the grizzly - hunter encounter because the case is still underinvestication.
Brown confirmed that an archery hunter killed the grizzly while hunting over bait- meant to attract black bears- on the bridger -Teton National Forest near Teton Village. Brown did not release the exact location, date or details about how the bear was killed.
But he said identifying the species is a challenge for black bear hunters because they often hunt around dusk when it is difficult to see. Bears are most active and likely to be looking for food at night, he said.
Nevertheless, a hunter is responsible for knowing the difference between a black bear and grizzly, Brown said.
If someone mistakes an elk for a moose and shoots an elk on a moose tag, the get fined, he said.
Once the investigation is complete, the federal government may turn the case over to the state prosecutors, Brown said.
Last year, the state filed charges in two separate cases in which hunters killed grizzlies after misidentifying them as black bears.
Although Teton Village is nestled in prime black bear habitat, the dead grizzly may count as the first confirmed sighting near the ski resort in more than 2 decades and probably longer. said Doug Crawford, a Wyoming Game And Fish Department warden. Crawford has handled black bear conflicts in Teton Village for the past 23 years.
The grizzly, which had been spotted in Teton village before the hunter encounter, is another sign of the species' expansion south, Crawford said.
Moreover, grizzlies are more likely to explore new territory during poor food years, Crawford said. This grizzly could be a harbinger of what's to come if drought conditions continue and the natural foods available to bears are limited, according to Brown and Crawford.
If one bear makes it down, why isn't the next one going to make it down ? Crawford said.
Few details are available about the grizzly - hunter encounter because the case is still underinvestication.
Brown confirmed that an archery hunter killed the grizzly while hunting over bait- meant to attract black bears- on the bridger -Teton National Forest near Teton Village. Brown did not release the exact location, date or details about how the bear was killed.
But he said identifying the species is a challenge for black bear hunters because they often hunt around dusk when it is difficult to see. Bears are most active and likely to be looking for food at night, he said.
Nevertheless, a hunter is responsible for knowing the difference between a black bear and grizzly, Brown said.
If someone mistakes an elk for a moose and shoots an elk on a moose tag, the get fined, he said.
Once the investigation is complete, the federal government may turn the case over to the state prosecutors, Brown said.
Last year, the state filed charges in two separate cases in which hunters killed grizzlies after misidentifying them as black bears.
