Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 36

grizzly

Q&A

Insights from

T

he Wyoming Game and Fish Department employs a team of professionals that
specialize in the management and research of large carnivores across the state.
L a r ge C a r n ivo re S ecti o n b i ol o g i st s wo rk to m i ti ga te h u m a n co n f l i ct s w i t h
gr izzly bears, black bears, mountain lions and wolves, lead research and population
m o n i to r i n g i n i ti a tive s fo r t h e s e s p e c i e s a n d i m p o r ta n t o u tr ea ch a n d ed u ca ti o n a l
effor ts to hel p reduce t h e p o tenti a l fo r co n f li ct.

Meet the Q&A team
Fo u r m e m b e r s of t h e s e c t i o n d e s c r i b e wh a t i t 's
like to help manage and study gr izzly bears while
working with the public.

Dan Bjornlie, large
carnivore biologist

Brian DeBolt,
large carnivore
conflict coordinator

Luke Ellsbury, large
carnivore biologist

Dan Thompson,
large carnivore
section supervisor

36 | December 2020	

Q: Grizzly bears are protected federally by the Endangered
Species Act, but what role does Wyoming and the Wyoming
Game and Fish Department have in managing grizzly
bears in the state?
Brian DeBolt: One of the roles Game and Fish plays in grizzly bear management is to respond to and mitigate conflicts
between humans and grizzly bears. We are basically the first
responders when conflict situations arise, although ultimately
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has final say. Game and
Fish responds to mostly complaints of damage caused by
bears, whether it's a bear breaking into a grain shed, bears
killing livestock or a bear obtaining a food reward.
Unfortunately, one of the conflicts we deal with is when
a person is injured or killed by a large carnivore. Game and
Fish has a specialized team that responds to these situations
called the predator attack team. This group of men and women
is made up of folks from our biologist and game warden
ranks as well as the large carnivore section who responds to
any situation where a human is injured or killed by a large
carnivore. It's a pretty lengthy investigation to gather all the
evidence to find out what bear was involved, what was the
cause of the attack, what was the circumstance of the situation
and what management action needs to be taken, if any at all.
Dan Bjornlie: Game and Fish plays almost the entire role
of the on-the-ground front of grizzly bear management
in Wyoming. I think a lot of people think because grizzly
bears are federally listed that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service has a major role in how day-to-day operations are
conducted, but their role is limited to providing a permit
for Game and Fish to capture and handle bears, and then to
authorize relocations and removal of grizzly bears. But the



Wyoming Wildlife magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wyoming Wildlife magazine

Cover
From the director
In this issue
A couple pennies
Mailbag
Opening shot
News
Griz on the Go poster
Ask Game and Fish
Grizzly Glossary
Bruin Challenges
Allure of the grizzly
Grizzly Q&A
Wild Country Dispatch
Backpage
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Cover
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - From the director
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - In this issue
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - A couple pennies
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Mailbag
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Opening shot
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 7
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - News
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Griz on the Go poster
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 10
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 11
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Ask Game and Fish
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Grizzly Glossary
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Bruin Challenges
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 15
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 16
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 17
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 18
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 19
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 20
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 21
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 22
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 23
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 24
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 25
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 26
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 27
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Allure of the grizzly
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 29
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 30
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 31
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 32
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 33
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 34
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 35
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Grizzly Q&A
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 37
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 38
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 39
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 40
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 41
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 42
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 43
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 44
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 45
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Wild Country Dispatch
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 47
Wyoming Wildlife magazine - Backpage
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