One of the many things that Yellowstone is known for is its abundant wildlife. Gray wolves, bison, and grizzly bears are among the popular and common wildlife spotted. However, grizzly bears have been in the news for more than just sightings lately. According to data collected from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Yellowstone grizzly death toll is climbing high this year. In fact, it is on track to match or even pass last year's death toll of 72 bears.
Yellowstone Grizzly Death Toll Climbing High
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Cowboy State Daily shared some of the harrowing details regarding the Yellowstone grizzly death toll. According to the outlet, 71 grizzlies have died so far in 2025. That is awfully close to 2024's total of 24 grizzly deaths. As for common causes of death, they remained the same as in previous years. "Roughly 30 grizzlies were killed for attacking livestock, at least eight were struck by vehicles, and seven were killed by other bears." Twelve bear deaths remain "under investigation" and do not have an official cause of death listed yet.
The outlet also mentioned that occasionally the mortalities reported don't match the deaths that occurred that year. For example, in 2024, 73 grizzly deaths were reported; however, one of them was confirmed to have happened in a separate year. Similarly, 73 mortalities have been reported for 2025 as well, but "at least two of those were skeletal remains discovered this year but thought to be from bears that died during a previous year."
Is This Death Toll Alarming?
Should people be alarmed by the Yellowstone grizzly death toll? It appears that the opinions vary. Seasoned black bear hunter Joe Kondelis told the outlet that he was not surprised by the death toll. When speaking with Cowboy State Daily, he shared, "I'm not surprised (by the numbers in the report). From my perspective, Cody country seemed more loaded with griz this year than normal, which was already high." With more bears out and about, it seems only natural that there might be more deaths.
Additionally, he argues that it has a lot to do with how the bears are being handled. "I think it's just a product of how the state is being forced to manage these bears; their hands are tied by the feds, and until that changes, it's going to continue to be an issue," he shared. Despite the rising death tolls, Kondelis does not think there is reason to be concerned. "Mortality is not limiting this population," he shared. "That is the most important part of the discussion that is often overlooked. Bears are born and survive every year; death is part of the story. While we focus on how bears live, there is a societal focus on how bears die," he added.
Varying Opinions
Although Kondelis's outlook is optimistic, not everyone agrees. Renowned wildlife photographer Tom Mangelsen is concerned about the Yellowstone grizzly death toll. When speaking to the outlet, he argued that the official tally could be off. Rather than being accurate, Mangelsen argued that many of the deaths might go unreported. Therefore, 71 deaths may actually be more like 140. "Assuming there are around 1,000 grizzlies in GYE, that's well over 10% of the population. It's similar to last year's record number, which, at that rate, is unsustainable. Delisting grizzlies is not an option," he said.
