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APRIL 26, 2001

Responding to a published report, Idaho Governor Dirk Kempthorne and Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) on Wednesday said they welcomed Secretary of Interior Gale Norton's decision to scrap a controversial grizzly bear reintroduction plan.

Both say they will wait until official word comes from Norton, however. Kempthorne is suing the Interior to stop the plan, which calls for reintroduction of bears in the Bitterroot Mountains.

The bears once roamed the West but were reduced due to hunting and encroachment. Starting off with 25, the plan, proposed by the Clinton administration in November, intends to increase the threatened population to 280, but that may take up to 100 years since bears have a very slow reproductive rate.

A citizens panel is to help oversee the plan, including a representative from the Nez Perce Tribe.

Get the Story:
Idaho leaders laud scrapping of grizzly plan (AP 4/26)

Related Stories:
Post: Norton to shelve bear plan (4/25)
Report: Grizzlies need space (11/24)
Controversial grizzly bear plan announced (11/17)