State wants feds to speed up grizzly bear studies

The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission is seeking public comments on a resolution that calls on the federal government to finish a review of grizzly bear populations in the Northwest United States and to fund ongoing bear research and conservation efforts.

The draft resolution asks for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the end of 2008 to determine how many separate and distinct grizzly bear populations there are in Montana, Idaho and Washington.

When the service removed the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly population from protection under the Endangered Species Act last year, it did so with a commitment to determine by the end of this year whether the other regional populations should be managed for recovery separately or grouped together.

"The Northern Continental Divide and the Cabinet, Yaak and Selkirk populations - which together includes portions of Montana, Idaho and Washington - have been treated as different populations under the ESA since 1975," said Chris Smith, chief of staff for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and a former chairman of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.

"As bears recover and expand their range, though, it may be more appropriate to treat all the bears in Western Montana as one population. Until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service makes that determination, we can't adequately plan future recovery efforts."

Smith said the resolution also calls for increased and secure federal funding for monitoring grizzly numbers and other conservation efforts.

"Restoring grizzly bears under the ESA is a national priority, so it's only appropriate that national funding, not just state dollars, cover the costs," Smith said.

The resolution suggests full funding for grizzly bear recovery efforts will cost about $1.6 million in 2008.

The state is taking e-mail comments at fwpwld@mt.gov or comments can be mailed to: Grizzly Bear Resolution, Directors Office, Montana FWP, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT, 59620-0701.

The draft resolution is available on the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Web site, http://fwp.mt.gov, under "commission" and "current agendas."