Mainstream Media Reacts to Massive Grizzly Killed in Yellowstone

Park officials trapped and killed a 400-pound grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park after the bear became food-conditioned.

Aside from the beautiful scenery, the opportunity to see a grizzly bear attracts thousands of visitors to Yellowstone each year. During the Spring, bears in the park wake up from hibernating all winter and begin scavenging for food.

Sometimes, bears can get into trouble and search for food in places that are populated by humans. When that happens, it becomes a safety concern, and the bear needs to be removed to protect visitors and property.

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Park officials recently decided a euthanize a male grizzly bear to ensure public safety and reduce the chances of other bears becoming food-conditioned.

Mainstream Media Reacts to Massive Grizzly Killed in Yellowstone

On May 14, Yellowstone National Park staff trapped and killed an 11-year-old male grizzly bear after it repeatedly sought out human food sources in developed areas of the park. According to a press release from YNP, the last time a grizzly bear was killed in a management action was in September 2017 when the park removed a grizzly bear that damaged tents and was seeking out human food in campsites at Heart Lake.

It was reported that the grizzly bear most recently killed by park staff was flipping over 800-pound dumpsters between April 3 and May 13, and gained access to human food and trash near Old Faithful, the Nez Perce Picnic Area, and the Midway Geyser Basin parking lot. The bear weighed 400-pounds.

The bear also uprooted smaller bear-resistant trash cans from their concrete bases to gain access to human food and garbage. As a result, the bear became increasingly food-conditioned and posed a risk to public safety in one of the busiest areas of the park.