grizzly bears

For the grizzly bears of the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, it was a good year for finding natural food. That was fortunate because it kept several far-ranging bears away from people.

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."

Jamie Jonkel, wildlife management specialist with FWP, said bears lived in the area for eons before people came, and they’re trying to recolonize that country.

Montanans recently weighed in on whether Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks should allow livestock producers to shoot grizzly bears that threaten livestock on public-land leases, and some complained that few people were aware of the meeting where they could provide comment.

The small grizzly bear populations in Idaho and northwestern Montana are about to get their own conservation strategy if biologists can answer a few perplexing questions first.

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.

While the number of reported bears in the Missoula urban interface is down compared to last year – likely due to a better food crop – the issue still remains a problem, both for the bears and for some people.

Jamie Jonkel, bear management specialist with FWP, said bears are extra active this time of year, especially in lower elevations where they food is more abundant and needed as the animals prepare for winter.

Changes to Missoula County's solid waste regulations will widen the bear buffer zone around the city limits and phase in the requirement of bear-resistant trash bins over the next three years.

After years of back-and-forth decision-making, the federal government is ready for public comment on a proposal to bring threatened grizzly bears back to the North Cascades.