Grizzly bears could be reintroduced to the
Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area in a little more than a year, if
a final environmental impact statement proceeds as planned. The
Fish and Wildlife Service’s preferred alternative of the grizzly
plan calls for a citizen’s management committee to oversee
reintroduction of a non-essential experimental grizzly bear
population. The Interior secretary would approve appointments to a
15-member committee nominated by the governors of Idaho and
Montana, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Forest Service and the Fish and
Wildlife Service. A scientific panel would resolve any dispute over
bear management. “This is the first time ever the federal
government has allowed local citizen management of an endangered
species,” says Jim Riley of the Intermountain Forestry Association.
The plan calls for 25 bears to be introduced in the Selway
Bitterroot Wilderness Area over five years, with a goal of reaching
280 bears within 50 years. Under the plan, citizens could obtain a
special permit to kill bears that have attacked their livestock.
Public comment on the plan can be viewed at
www.r6.fws.gov/endspp/grizzly. Send comments to Grizzly Bear
Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, University
Hall-Room 309, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, or e-mail
FW6_Bitterroot@fws.gov.
Copyright © 200 HCN and Eric Barker
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline A bear of a plan.
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