A male grizzly was captured northeast of Jackson and relocated to an area east of Yellowstone National Park last week after obtaining livestock feed on private lands near the Buffalo Fork River drainage.

At the direction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department relocated the sub-adult male bear on July 28.

The bear was relocated to the Five Mile Creek drainage, approximately 5 miles from Yellowstone’s East Entrance. The site was chosen due to the lack of human presence and ability to release the bear behind a closed gate.

Consultation with the appropriate personnel and agencies occurs to minimize the chance of future conflicts and maximize the survival potential of the relocated grizzly bear, the Game and Fish said. Bears considered a threat to human safety are not relocated.

The department said grizzly bear relocation helps minimize conflicts between humans and grizzly bears and is critical to the management of the population.