A new animated graphic created by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department shows the growth of the Yellowstone area grizzly population.
First noted within the grizzly bear recovery zone in 1999, the population eventually surges behind that zone as well as the demographic monitoring area. Total grizzly bear distribution now includes the Wyoming cities of Cody and Jackson and, as of 2018, is pushing city limits in Bozeman and Livingston, Montana.
Ranchers and other residents continue to deal with the growing population in places where the bears have not been seen in more than 100 years.
The Department of Interior announced the recovery and delisting of the Yellowstone grizzly population in June of 2017 but a federal judge vacated the ruling several months later. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation disagrees with that ruling and maintains the population is recovered and should be subject to state management.
Go here to view the animated graphic.
(Photo & graphic source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department)