Montana Grizz management

[Bigjay73]

Montana releases final environmental assessment for grizzly management plan • Daily Montanan

Montana plans to manage for a sustained grizzly bear population regardless of whether the animal’s Endangered Species Act protections are taken away in two Montana ecosystems where there are currently close to 1,000 grizzlies, but plans to continue addressing conflicts between the bears, humans...

dailymontanan.com

 

[Forkyfinder]

Gonna get in before the Griz point creep

 

[Ben Lamb]

Here's the FEIS: https://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content...zzly-management/feis---clean-format_final.pdf

Here is the executive summary: https://fwp.mt.gov/binaries/content...ent/feis-executive-summary---clean-format.pdf

 

[Luke_with_a_lab]

"the final plan would allow FWP to implement a hunting season for grizzlies in the event they are delisted in parts of Montana, but would not begin until at least five years after they are delisted. However, the Fish and Wildlife Commission and legislature could change those dates if they choose."

Hopefully the hunting could begin sooner than 5 years. Knowing our commission and legislature one would have to think they would change the dates.

 

[Nameless Range]

When I read the EIS, I feel as if I am reading a mature and well-fleshed out plan. The only real rebuttals I sympathize with are those of a general distrust of FWP to follow the plan.

Whether it comes to wolves or grizz, the question I ask opponents of State Management is "What do you think is going to happen? What will the status of griz or wolf populations be 5 years from now or ten years from now?" It's interesting to hear the responses, and in my personal experience, opposition to delisting has less to do with population concerns - though hyperbole abounds - and more to do with a general distaste regarding the idea of hunting those animals which is implied in State Management.

 

[andrew11]

“While Montana’s struggling grizzly bear population is fighting for survival"

This statement almost seems humorous

 

[peterk1234]

I'm surprised at the number of 1,000. I would have guessed it was quite a bit more.

 

[Gerald Martin]

I'm surprised at the number of 1,000. I would have guessed it was quite a bit more.

As of a few years ago there were @700 documented grizzlies by DNA hair samples in the Bob Marshall Complex alone.

I think that 1300-1500 statewide is probably a more accurate estimate than 1000.

 

[Pagosa]

I've read in about 2011-13 there were 900 grizzlies in the Rocky Mtn Front and adjacent wilderness areas. This was from the FWP.

 

[Gerald Martin]

I've read in about 2011-13 there were 900 grizzlies in the Rocky Mtn Front and adjacent wilderness areas. This was from the FWP.

We’re probably thinking of the same press release. If memory serves me correctly they had @700 DNA samples and extrapolated an estimated 200-300 additional bears that didn’t leave hair on the barbed wire at the survey sites.

 

[cgasner1]

As of a few years ago there were @700 documented grizzlies by DNA hair samples in the Bob Marshall Complex alone.

I think that 1300-1500 statewide is probably a more accurate estimate than 1000.

They must have used a reverse algorithm from how they count the deer to get the bear numbers?

 

[Gerald Martin]

They must have used a reverse algorithm from how they count the deer to get the bear numbers?

It was the same algorithm. “We are seeing more bears getting killed this year than last year. Grizzly bears are doing great in MT.”