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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2001

Despite opposition from Western politicians, the public overwhelmingly wants the Department of Interior to reintroduce grizzly bears in Montana and Idaho.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency of the Interior, has received 28,000 written comments about the Bush administration's plan to scrap the reintroduction. Of these, 98 percent opposed dropping it -- although most of these comments were form letters.

Former Secretary Bruce Babbitt last December announced the controversial plan to bring at least 25 bears to the Bitteroot Mountains, a vast 4 million acre wilderness, in Montana and western Idaho. Idaho Gov. Dick Kempthorne and Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) opposed the plan.

Get the Story:
Public opposes delaying grizzly reintroduction (AP 10/24)
Idaho gets public nod for grizzlies (The Denver Post 10/24)
Distaste for grizzly plan bears out in survey (The Denver Rocky Mountain News 10/24)

Related Stories:
Norton still leery of litigation (8/21)
Norton to rescind grizzly bear plan (6/21)
Idaho officials welcome end to bear plan (4/26)
Post: Norton to shelve bear plan (4/25)
Report: Grizzlies need space (11/24)
Controversial grizzly bear plan announced (11/17)