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NOVEMBER 17, 2000

The US Fish and Wildlife Service announced on Thursday a controversial plan to release wild grizzly bears, a threatened species, into the mountains of Idaho and western Montana.

Grizzly bears were once abundant in the United States but human activity and loss of habitat have reduced their numbers. The Department of Interior estimates that 50,000 grizzly bears once inhabited the entire country before European settlement, but only as many as 1,100 remain, primarily in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Washington.

The Bitteroot Mountains, a vast 4 million acre wilderness, are considered to a prime location for their recovery. At least 25 bears, primarily from Canada, will be relocated to the area over five years, and the Interior hopes to begin the effort by 2002.

The goal is a bear population of 280. But that could take up to 100 years to reach that goal, as grizzlies have a low reproductive rate.

The plan has its detractors already. Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne is threatening a lawsuit over the decision and local officials and lawmakers, including Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), have voiced objections.

To help alleviate some local concern, the plan will be developed by a 15-member citizen management committee (CMC). One of the members will be appointed from the Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho, five will be appointed by Montana's Governor, seven by Idaho's, and one each from Fish and Wildlife and the USDA Forest Service. The CMC will take a year to form and develop the management plan, as well as inform the public about the bears and safety issues.

The plan is estimated to cost $2.1 million over five years. Congress has to appropriate money to fund the project, which could be difficult given opposition. Currently, some $100,000 has been appropriated, which will primarily go to the formation of the CMC.

Under a special rule, the population will be considered a non-essential, experimental one. This designation allows the bears to be removed, or possibly killed, should they pose any threat to humans.

Relevant Links:
Record of Decision and Final Rule for Grizzly Bear Recovery in the Bitterroot - mountain-prairie.fws.gov/bitterroot
The Nez Perce Tribe - www.nezperce.org