Bitterroot Mountains

Sunday night's cooler temperatures helped quiet a wildfire in the Bitterroot Range, but winds predicted for Tuesday could stoke the fire again.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a public scoping period to consider options for restoring grizzly bears to the Bitterroot ecosystem — although it said one option is not taking any action.

Missoula County will have a seat at the table as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service looks to restore grizzly bears to the expansive Bitterroot ecosystem south of Missoula.

Mike Garrity writes, "Recovery of endangered grizzly bears in the lower 48 states hinges on critical genetic connectivity between the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental grizzlies provided by the Bitterroot Mountains."

Even though grizzlies have already been there, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee's message for the Bitterroot region is “get ready for bears.” But readiness is lacking in some aspects.