Human-bear conflict is an ongoing concern in Wyoming, especially with Grizzly bears. | File photo

Wyoming Game and Fish Director Angi Bruce told listeners of the Weekday Wake-up that the state is doing its share to study and monitor grizzly bears, yet remains constrained by federal rules governing the animals’ status.

Bruce reminded the public that grizzly bears are still listed as a threatened species. As a result, she said the Wyoming Game & Fish Department does not possess the full range of management tools it would need to oversee grizzlies in the way it could under a different federal classification.

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“It’s very frustrating,” Bruce said, adding that while the agency conducts substantial monitoring and research, it lacks full management authority. She noted her department continues working with Wyoming’s congressional delegation and with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including former Wyoming Game & Fish Director and now of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Brian Nesvik, as part of a continuing push to pursue delisting.

In her remarks, Bruce argued that if Wyoming were granted additional tools, including the possibility of a hunting framework, it could help reduce human-bear conflict. She said she often hears from hunters that they have stopped hunting in certain areas known for grizzlies, believing that the sound of gunfire can encourage bears to associate people and human activity with food.

Bruce said her goal would be to restore a pattern in which grizzly bears remain wary of people and gunshots, leading to fewer dangerous encounters. She described hunting, if available, as a potential means of sustaining healthy bear populations and supporting public social acceptance of grizzlies.

The director also addressed concerns that incidents in and around Yellowstone may influence bear behavior farther. Bruce said Wyoming has not observed additional southern movement beyond a grizzly bear movement seen in the past, but she cautioned that residents outside the recovery zone should still be careful, as bears may roam.

Bruce concluded by emphasizing that Wyoming officials are working on multiple strategies to improve both wildlife outcomes and public safety, stating the effort is ongoing and determined.