By Rebecca Huntington, Jackson Hole News & Guide Contributor -

Federal agencies trapped and radio collared two of Grizzly 399’s cubs Saturday in order to keep a closer watch on the five-bear family and prevent human-bear conflicts.

The cubs have been released and are with Grizzly 399 and the other two cubs, according to a Sunday morning news release from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Grand Teton National Park.

The Fish and Wildlife Service has authority to manage grizzlies in Wyoming since grizzlies are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

“The Service recognizes the high level of interest in grizzly bear #399, and we thank all of our partners for coming together to do what we can to ensure both the safety of the public as well as the safety of #399 and her yearlings from growing risks of human-bear conflict,” said the agency’s Acting Regional Director Matt Hogan. “This preventive step will help us mitigate further conflicts to protect grizzly bear #399, her yearlings, and the public.”

This is a developing story. Look for updates in the Jackson Hole Daily and Jackson Hole News & Guide.

Wyoming’s call for help to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s grizzly bear recovery coordinator, Hilary Cooley, came back on Oct. 18 after a wall-to-wall weekend of conflicts.

It was a Monday, and local staffers at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department had become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of calls and conflicts related to Grizzly 399, a famous sow bear with four half-grown cubs. The bear family has been on an extended walkabout through southern Jackson Hole. Since the summer, the 25-year-old bear has spent more time outside Grand Teton National Park than within the protected landscape, and her travels through places like Josie's Ridge, Tribal Trails and Hoback Junction proved problematic.

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