Letter to US Fish & Wildlife Service: "Protect Clearwater Grizzlies"

10 September 2007 Dr. Chris Servheen Grizzly Coordinator US Fish & Wildlife Service University Hall Room 309 University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812 Dr. Servheen: The recent “confirmed” grizzly in the Bitterroot Ecosystem in Idaho—a dead healthy male bear killed by a hunter—is no surprise to us. There have been consistent and reliable reports of grizzly in the northern portion of the Big Wild, the largest remaining relatively intact ecosystem remaining in the lower 48 states. These reports include one from the Forest Service in the late 1990s of a grizzly and cubs from the Lolo National Forest near the Idaho border in the Kelly Creek/Great Burn country, the work of Groves and Melquist from Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) in the 80s (a fair reading of the evidence suggested a more than likely chance grizzlies were in the region), the reports from the retired Fish and Game officer from the North Fork (Gene Eastman), and the grizzly that apparently crossed the Bitterroot River from the east and spent time in or near the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and then apparently returned to the Sapphire Mountains. The size of the Big Wild Ecosystem, centered on the Salmon and Clearwater drainages--is considerably greater than the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The northern portion of the Big Wild, also know as the Wild Clearwater Country, has isolated plant communities more like coastal rain forests and has had persistent reports of grizzly in the backcountry of the North Fork Clearwater, the upper St. Joe, the Great Burn region on the Lolo forest in Montana, and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Ironically, even the US Fish and Wildlife Services website (www.fws.gov/idahoes/Fact/Griz.html) shows that grizzlies inhabit this area. We sent you letters regarding the probably existence of grizzlies in this region on November 30, 1997 and April 23, 2000 as part of our comments on the Bitterroot Grizzly Recovery EIS. Furthermore, Friends of the Clearwater has been part of the Great Grizzly Search, a collection of conservation groups including the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Great Bear Foundation, Wilderness Watch, and Friends of the Bitterroot. The goal of that group has been to try and document grizzly presence in the region. Funding constraints have prevented much research the past few years, but you are undoubtedly aware of that effort. The history of evidence of grizzly persistence in the Clearwater Basin is background rather than the main purpose of this letter. We write this letter because there are two things the FWS must address to be consistent with the ESA. First, if it weren't for the honesty of the outfitter involved, we would still not have verification that grizzlies are in the Clearwater basin. Of course, the fact that a mistake was made does not excuse those involved from incorrectly identifying the animal that was killed. How many other grizzlies in places like the North Fork or Selway –Bitterroot Wilderness have met a similar fate in recent times where the parties were not honest as they were in this instance? Second-hand reports of grizzly bears that have been killed in these areas do make the rounds in our area. As such, the FWS must take action to ensure the survival of grizzlies in the Bitterroot ecosystem under the ESA from “mistaken” identity. Such action should include a requirement that all outfitters and bear hunters in units 7 (Little North Fork Clearwater), 9 (upper St. Joe) 10 (upper North Fork Clearwater), 12 (Lochsa), 16 and 16a (Lower Selway and Meadow Creek) 17 (Selway), 15 (south Fork Clearwater), 19, 20 and 21 (Salmon River drainage, north of the east/west mainstem) receive training in bear identification. Another would be a requirement that USFWS and IDFG inspect all bears killed in the area within a short period of time. This would be important as some of these areas like the upper Selway and parts of the upper North Fork Clearwater (Kelly Creek) are used by outfitters from Montana and access to and from the area is generally through Montana. Second the USFWS must address the IDFG?s black bear hunting regulations in the above noted hunting units. Idaho allows baiting and hounding of bears, hunting spring and fall, and a far too liberal take in the Clearwater Basin. The article about the grizzly killing in the Lewiston Morning Tribune reported the grizzly was killed over bait. Baiting habituates grizzly bears to human food, which is contrary to the ESA and grizzly recovery. Hounds could result in harassment of a grizzly, which is forbidden under the ESA. More bear hunters in the wilderness and the backcountry make a greater chance that a tragic mistake, like the one made a few days ago, will occur. FWS must oversee IDFG?s regulations for compliance with the ESA and grizzly recovery. Obviously, killing of extremely endangered Bitterroot grizzlies must be stopped. Lastly, motorized vehicle use in the roadless areas of the Bitterroot Ecosystem must be halted to provide a secure area for grizzlies?s survival. The FWS and IDFG must take seriously grizzly recovery in the Bitterroots. Now that grizzlies are confirmed in the area, swift action is necessary to prevent further tragedy. We await your prompt reply. Sincerely, Will Boyd Education Director