Migratory black bear cub relocated from Hailey to eastern Idaho

The following is a press release from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

IDAHO FALLS – People often talk about how far and fast wildlife can travel. Some are hard to believe. Fish and wildlife biologists in the Magic Valley region now have another story to tell about the black bear cub that traveled well over 120 miles in about 17 days.

This bear story begins in Carmen, north of Salmon, where Salmon Region regional wildlife biologists are grappling with a significant increase in black bears in the area. Most bears found attractants such as unsecured household waste and pet food.

A particular black bear cub had become a repeat visitor to a residential home where he found unsecured pet food, which can quickly lead to the bear becoming food conditioned.

A food-conditioned bear is never a good thing – and can often lead to a bear being euthanized for safety reasons.

Because of his young age, local biologists considered him a good candidate for relocation. On Oct. 3, a regional wildlife biologist from Salmon shot the cub, tagged it with ear tags and relocated it to Panther Creek in the Salmon National Forest.

Ear tags have a unique number that allows for later identification if biologists encounter the bear again or a hunter shoots the bear. Knowing a bear's history, even if it is only a small part of its life, can be important information for wildlife biologists.

The hike begins

What happened in the next 17 days is anyone's guess. What we do know is that the bear cub with a small green ear tag in its right ear, which was released on October 3rd, was observed by residents in Hailey, Idaho over the weekend of October 19th-20th.

The distance from the release area to Hailey is estimated to be over 120 air miles.

During his hike, the bear cub encountered many large rivers and smaller streams, several mountain ranges, state and county roads, and countless vehicles.

Bear reported in Hailey

The first report of the black bear cub was received at the Magic Valley Regional Office on Monday, October 21st. Conservation officers were the first to respond to the reported sighting and found the young bear in a residential backyard eating apples.

Like unsecured garbage trucks, fruit trees are a food attractant that can attract and keep bears in the neighborhood.

A local report came from a middle school student who took a photo of the little bear near Wood River Middle School on Sunday, October 20th.

Decision to set a trap and relocate

Once on site, Fish and Game staff determined that the young bear was in good physical condition and there was a high likelihood that he could survive on his own, meaning he was a good candidate for relocation.

While the young bear has a tendency to seek out human food sources, it is hoped that he has not yet fully adapted to the diet.

Using a baited cage trap, staff were able to capture the year-old bear and transport it to the regional office in Jerome, where it was relocated outside the Wood River Valley, away from fruit and trash attractants.

Free travel to Eastern Idaho

After transport to the regional office in Jerome, wildlife staff were able to find a more suitable area for release in eastern Idaho.

Southeast region wildlife biologists took possession of the bear on Tuesday, October 22, and then released it east of Pocatello in the Caribou National Forest.

Bears in the Wood River Valley 2024

The Magic Valley region has been extremely busy with black bear calls from the Wood River Valley. Since the beginning of August, well over 80 calls have been received in the region, which represents only a fraction of the bear sightings in recent months.

In 2024, Fish and Game relocated two black bears to other areas of the state and transported a bear cub to a licensed bear rehabilitation center. No bears have been euthanized in the Wood River Valley since 2022.

Residents are reminded that all food attractants must be kept out of reach of black bears to keep bears free. This includes trash stored in a garage or shed, pet food, grills, bird feeders and fruit picked from the tree or picked up regularly, dug into the ground and disposed of properly.

For more information about keeping Idaho bears wild, call your local Fish and Game office or visit the Wood River Valley Wildlife Smart Communities website.