Steve Kelly writes, "Human intolerance, malevolence and habitat destruction spanning two centuries has caused the extermination of grizzly bears over 99% of its historical range."
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.
Fresh grizzly bear bloodlines are expected to arrive in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem this summer, adding genetic diversity to a population of animals that’s been isolated for a century.
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.
Trains speed through Montana, sometimes killing grizzly bears caught on the tracks, so two organizations are suing the railroad company to make the tracks safer.
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.