![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carcasses-wait-4.8.26.jpg\")
A huge grizzly takes a nap after gorging on a big game carcass in Yellowstone National Park, while another grizzly awaits its turn nearby. (Courtesy Pete Bengeyfield)Wolves In the Picture<\/p>\nAfter a lackluster\u00a0winter\u00a0that killed fewer bison, elk and deer\u00a0than most years,\u00a0and wolves\u00a0gobbling\u00a0up carcasses earlier, Wyoming\u2019s grizzlies might have to make dietary adjustments this spring.<\/p>\n
Even so, observers aren\u2019t worried about grizzlies starving because the bears are intelligent and adaptable.<\/p>\n
Grizzlies excel at finding food sources, Wyoming Game and Fish large carnivore specialist Dan Thompson told Cowboy State Daily.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we’ve demonstrated empirically that bears are very adaptive and effective at finding food sources, we’ve demonstrated this in multiple formats and through time,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Fewer Bears Out, Fewer Carcasses<\/p>\n
Grizzlies might have slim pickings for carcasses this year, two seasoned Wyoming wildlife photographers told Cowboy State Daily, noting that the unusually warm weather this spring has drawn a few bears out early.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d suspect the mild winter has limited the number of available ungulate carcasses, especially affecting bears waking up from hibernation who benefit from easy protein typically provided by frozen carcasses, said photographer Jorn Vangoidtsenhoven.<\/p>\n
There have been \u201cmoms with yearling cubs\u201d spotted out early this year, he said.<\/p>\n
Photographer Tom Mangelsen said that grizzly activity in and near Grand Teton National Park has been a little sparse so far this spring.<\/p>\n
“It seems there are very few bears out yet here; we saw one beautiful mother with two yearlings a week ago that we haven\u2019t seen before, and they haven\u2019t been seen since.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“There are two subadults hanging out together and a couple of single bears up north spotted a couple times,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He agreed that winter kill carcasses will be in short supply this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, the winter was mild and short, and of course there would be less winter kill. I had three feet of snow in my yard last year. Now I have three inches of grass,\u201d said Mangelsen, who lives near Jackson.<\/p>\n
A huge grizzly takes a nap after gorging on a big game carcass in Yellowstone National Park, while another grizzly awaits its turn nearby. (Courtesy Pete Bengeyfield)Wolves In the Picture<\/p>\n
Some of the large animals that died over the winter were gobbled up by wolves, before grizzlies had a chance at them, Mangelsen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were wolves around last winter and they would have cleaned up any winter kills before bears came out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Thompson noted that grizzlies adapted to the presence of wolves.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn regard to winter killed ungulates,\u00a0you\u00a0would expect less this year, but that dynamic changed more with wolves and scavenging and bears still thrive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Precipitation Needed<\/p>\n
Retired federal ecologist Chuck Neal of Cody told Cowboy State Daily that during his frequent hikes in the area, he hasn\u2019t seen much winter kill.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen almost no winter kill. I have come across a couple of well-used carcasses in the past couple of months, but I think those were wolf kills, not winter kill,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
When wolves make a kill, large male grizzlies might steal it, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe adult males are pretty adept at pushing a pack of wolves off a carcass. The females with cubs can\u2019t do that, because there is too much risk to the young,\u201d Neal said.<\/p>\n
Females and cubs will probably depend more upon vegetation, such as biscuit root, which in turn depends upon spring precipitation, he said<\/p>\n
The next month or so will be crucial, he added. If there isn\u2019t significant precipitation to sprout new growth, that could leave bears in a bind.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now, I\u2019m not terribly sweating it, but I am a little concerned,\u201d Neal said.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Carcasses-splash-4.8.26.jpg\")
A grizzly churns up pond water in Yellowstone National Park, hoping to find a big game carcass to eat. (Courtesy Pete Bengeyfield)New Crop Of Cubs?<\/p>\n
For bear watchers, the show really begins when mother grizzlies emerge with COY (cubs-of-the-year), Vangoidtsenhoven said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCOY typically don\u2019t appear until mid-May. They are born in the safety of the den around late January as tiny babies, so they spend their time in the den into May feeding and growing to be ready to leave the den. It\u2019ll be interesting to see if this weather actually has COY appearing sooner too,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Some famous grizzlies might be due to emerge with new cubs this spring.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are excited about the possibility of Grizzly 610 or even 1063 having COY this year,\u201d Vangoidtsenhoven said.<\/p>\n
In May 2025, a large male grizzly\u00a0killed two<\/a>\u00a0of Grizzly 1063\u2019s three yearling cubs.<\/p>\n