Montana to create grizzly management council

Montana is forming a group that will discuss grizzly bear management, conservation and recovery in the Northern Rockies.

In announcing the Grizzly Bear Advisory Council, Gov. Steve Bullock said he is looking for a broad cross-section of interests to serve on the council, including livestock producers, wildlife enthusiasts, conservation groups, hunters, community leaders, Tribal Nation representatives and outdoor industry professionals. Members will be selected through an application process that ends April 12.

“The recovery of grizzly bears in the Northern Continental Divide and Greater Yellowstone ecosystems is a great conservation success. Still, official federal delisting has yet to come to fruition,” Bullock wrote in a memo to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Director Martha Williams.

“Legal uncertainty has created a void requiring our leadership. As bears continue to expand in numbers and habitat, we must identify durable and inclusive strategies to address current issues and prepare for the future. This advisory council represents a key step toward Montana embracing the tremendous responsibility and opportunity of long-term Grizzly Bear recovery and management.”

According to the Governor’s Office, the council will provide recommendations on several pressing issues including bear distribution, connectivity between ecosystems, conflict prevention, response protocols, outreach and education, and the role of hunting and necessary resources for long-term population sustainability.

There are four grizzly bear recovery zones in Montana designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem; the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem; the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem; and the Bitterroot Ecosystem. While grizzly bear numbers have surpassed recovery objectives in the the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide, they have yet to reach recovery levels in the Cabinet-Yaak and Bitterroot.

Federal officials delisted the Yellowstone grizzly bear population under the Endangered Species Act in 2017, but a federal court decision last fall relisted the population. This delayed the delisting process for the Northern Continenatal and resulted in an appeal of the Yellowstone decision.

Meanwhile, the grizzly population continues to expand, creating management challenges as well as increased conflicts, the governor’s office stated.

“We’re excited to work with this advisory council, and we see this as a great opportunity to find a way forward that reflects the values and needs of Montana as it relates to grizzly bear management,” FWP Director Williams said. “A council that is inclusive in its composition will allow for the balanced discussion we need to have.”

The Grizzly Bear Advisory Council will be tasked with considering broad strategic objectives, such as:

- Maintaining and enhancing human safety;

- Ensuring a healthy and sustainable grizzly bear population;

- Improving timely and effective response to conflicts involving grizzly bears;

- Engaging all partners in grizzly-related outreach and conflict prevention; and

- Improving intergovernmental, interagency, and tribal coordination.

Council application information can be found online at http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/species/grizzlyBear/default.html.