CLARK — Gary Bunn has lived in Clark his entire life, and in those 61 years, he’s never heard so many reports of grizzly bears in the rural community near the Montana state line.

Until now. So far, two grizzlies have been tranquilized and relocated and traps have been set for at least two more, according to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Bunn said it’s the talk of Clark.

“It’s getting so everybody’s about half-scared out there,” he said during a stop at the Powell Tribune office Wednesday afternoon.

Luke Ellsbury, a Game and Fish large carnivore biologist, was in the Clark area Wednesday. Ellsbury said people should “absolutely” be on alert.

“We actually have several bears out here in the area right now,” he said. “It’s becoming more common in Clark now. And the bears are dropping to lower elevations for the final calorie charge.”

So far, a 400-pound male was "removed" — that is, killed — by the department on Monday and a 300-pound female was killed Tuesday. Ellsbury said when Game and Fish workers were removing traps Tuesday he spotted the tracks of a sow grizzly and at least one cub.

“We actually put up more traps today and put them by a cornfield they were in,” he said.

Ellsbury said people in the Clark area should move animal feed, garbage and other items that might lure bears inside. They should also be on guard when outside, he said.

“With hunting season, it’s always good to be on high alert when you’re in the brush,” Ellsbury said.

Bunn said he was working cattle at his parents’ farm just south of the Edelweiss bar, cafe and convenience store two weeks ago when the cows grew agitated for some reason. They later learned a sow grizzly, reportedly around 800 pounds, was in the area.

A Game and Fish plane flew over his parents’ home on Oct. 20 and Kyle Bales, a G&F  large carnivore biologist also based in Cody, later told him of the multiple bear sightings.

Grizzlies have been spotted by Chief Joseph Estates, a subdivision, as well as by a fish hatchery. So far, no one has been injured, and the bears have all been tranquilized and relocated.

“Never used to be grizzlies out there,” Bunn said. “Sometimes saw a black bear. Never a grizzly.”

However, there have been other reports of multiple grizzlies in the area in recent years.

Five grizzlies were darted and relocated Oct. 8-11, 2011, when they grew too fond of the Clark landfill’s animal carcass pit, according to a Tribune story. A sow with three cubs and another sow were removed from the area that time.

Bunn said the grizzlies are feasting on Russian olives that grow wild along the Clark Fork River banks. He said a neighbor of his was advised to remove an apple tree from his yard, since that might lure grizzlies there. The man declined, Bunn said, and replied he was armed and ready to deal with a large bruin.

Bunn also is armed, carrying a .38-caliber revolver on his hip. He said he has larger weapons in case he needs to deal with a grizzly at his home.

Like other Clark residents, he hopes that doesn’t happen, Bunn said, but people are keeping alert when they step outside, especially after dark.

“I just wanted to let people know,”he said. “I don’t want to see someone getting hurt.”

Editor's note: This version corrects that the two grizzlies caught on Monday and Tuesday were killed by the department, not relocated.