Where Grizzlies Go to Die: the Upper Green River Grazing Allotment

The 170,000-acre Upper Green River Allotment, located on the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming, is the largest grazing allotment under Forest Service administration. It is also one of the best wildlife habitats in the West, and it is easily comparable to the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park.

It is also the epicenter of grizzly and livestock conflicts, with the grizzlies often emerging as the losers. Problem livestock are harming native predators.

This would be called vandalism of public resources under any other circumstances. It is indeed ironic that if someone were to spray-paint an FS sign, they could be arrested for destruction of public property. However, someone’s privately-owned cattle can damage numerous public resources with no consequences at all.

Killing grizzly bears (or wolves) on public lands to protect private businesses that are utilizing the public domain is nothing short of legalized vandalism. For instance, in 2024, four grizzlies were killed on this single allotment after bears killed 91 cattle.

The decision by the Bridger-Teton National Forest to allow livestock grazing here was contested. I wrote extensive comments listing numerous domestic livestock conflicts with public resources.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2025/04/09/where-grizzlies-go-to-die-the-upper-green-river-grazing-allotment/