Season 3 - Episode 66: Managing Grizzly Bear Conflicts in Wyoming with Brian DeBolt - a podcast by Heidi Lyn Rao

In this week's episode, meet Brian DeBolt.  He is the Large Carnivore Conflict Coordinator with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.  In his 20+ years of service, he has worked to educate the public in the many large carnivores that roam the great state of Wyoming.

He will talk about some of his experiences helping landowners and ranchers protect their livestock and property against grizzly bears who end up on their land.  It is important to know the behaviors of grizzly bears and their natural curiosities and instincts, and how to prevent an encounter or unintended conflict or worse.

It is also extremely important this time of year to be "bear aware" during the height of travel and tourist season in Wyoming's National Parks like Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, and the National Forests and Recreation Areas.  Grizzly sows have their cubs this time of year, are coming out of hibernation seeking food depending how hard the recent winter was.  Oftentimes tourists and outdoor enthusiasts are coming from areas, states, provinces and other countries where there are no large carnivores, especially grizzly bears.  These animals are not the cute and cuddly critters like stuffed animal and cartoon characters portray.  They are WILD animals protecting their young, their food, and their territory.

Education is the key, and common sense SHOULD always prevail.  Too many times the curious tourist gets wrapped up in the moment seeing their first "Bear Jam" and witnessing a real grizzly bear!  Sadly people do not heed the educational flyers, literature and warning signs to stay far away and enjoy wildlife, especially grizzly bears, from afar.

Enjoy this topic and listening to a native Wyoming-ite and a professional employee with the state's Game and Fish Department share safety and best practices to have a wonderful journey through grizzly bear country and take away incredible memories and photos (taken from afar) to share for years!      

Further episodes of North American Outdoors

Further podcasts by Heidi Lyn Rao

Website of Heidi Lyn Rao