A female grizzly without any history of human conflict will be selected for the move.
This has been done a few times over the years but the idea of moving grizzly bears into areas that don’t already have them or across state boundaries has been out of the question due to the hysteria that surrounds them.
Grizzly bear to be relocated to Cabinets.
The Western News
Comments
Good to hear that they are continuing this program and helping to improve the genetic base.
I wish they would start adding a few to the Bitteroot.
Can’t move fast enough for me. Although at times I fear for the bears that would be translocated to Bitterroot due to current social and political climate. At the same time, the Bitterroot zone is large enough (Frank Church, Selway/Bitterroot, Gospel Hump)you would think that they could find safe haven enough to reproduce and begin to make a stand. Yet the two bears we know of that did make it to the zone last year both met their demise as a result of some aspect of this climate.
I am hopeful this summer we will hear of bears here already and not the stories like those of last year (killed as a result of mistaken identity).
Jay,
As has been seen in the past, the Bitteroot is a political mine field when it comes to grizzly bears, my wife has relatives that live in the BR and there is not many in the area that support bears down that way..it always amazes me when we visit, how many are against grizz!
Save Bears .. why do you think it is that they are so against griz . . is it fear, hence they feel the backcountry is off limits to them?
I think it is a fear of the backcountry being off limits and also of bear attacks. Maybe they have been reading too much Outdoor Life also. 🙂
I’ve seen surveys that show people don’t want bear recovery in the Bitterroot for several reasons: fear or concern for personal safety being a major one, but also, the possible negative effects to the local livestock, timber and recreation economies and land use restrictions. Having a stuffed, fangs bared, griz in at least one cafe, bar, or grocery store in every mountain town around sure doesn’t help reduce the fear factor and create a balanced image for the bear (a beautiful full standing mount at The Kneadery). Throw the media in and Idaho’s history of fear mongering politicians and it’s easy to see why “fear” is such a factor.
In addition, many people feel that grizzly bear recovery is just an excuse for the fed’s to reduce private property and individual rights. With states rights becoming such a hot button issue and many voicing sentiment that wolves were “shoved down their throats” by the fed’s, it seems that many oppose re-introduction simply because it is being spearheaded by a federal agency.
This is a portion of a form letter signed by 21 people and sent in during the Idaho comment period for the recovery plan: “We were all doing just fine before the Fish and Wildlife Service showed up with bears and wolves in tow. I don’t need you, my friends don’t need you, my family doesn’t need you, my community doesn’t need you, the Selway Bitterroot system doesn’t need you, and I would respectfully request you and your ideas and your bears to stay out and leave us alone.”
Linda,
I have not been able to put my finger on the reason, but in all my travels, the Bitteroot area has one of the most negative views I have ever seen about Grizz..