this area. USFWS will have to address many other issues in addition to this plan in any 

 proposal to delist this population. The delisting process is an open public process, and 

 there will be opportunities for public input should a change in status be prepared. 



Genetic Concerns: Comments indicated that some people were concerned about the 

 genetic status of the population due to its isolation from other grizzly bear populations. 

 There was concern this population is or could suffer from potential in-breeding. The 

 current science around this issue is the subject of some debate. Current information 

 indicates that a population of 400 or more individuals would be necessary to minimize 

 possible genetic problems with this population. FWP will work with other states and 

 agencies to maintain a minimum of more than 400 bears in the greater Yellowstone area. 

 Current total population estimates are already above this level. Also, because this plan 

 seeks to provide for expansion and potential linkage of this population to others in the 

 long term, the genetic concerns could greatly diminish in the future. FWP will monitor 

 the genetic status of the population with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team 

 (IGBST) so that a timely response could be implemented should it become necessary. 



Remove Sheep Allotments or other Livestock from Occupied Grizzly Bear Habitat: 



The conservation strategy that covers the PCA specifically addresses phasing out sheep 

 allotments as opportunities arise. However, as bears have and will continue to expand 

 well beyond the PCA, they will encounter additional sheep allotments. It is counter 

 productive to efforts of building tolerance for bear expansion, to single out the sheep 

 industry for elimination in areas of expanded bear occupancy. A more productive 

 approach to nurturing tolerance for expanded bear occupancy is to work with individual 

 producers to develop specific management practices that allow for coexistence. If 

 woolgrowers are specifically targeted for elimination in areas bears are expanding into, 

 Montana will meet a zone of no tolerance which will translate directly into artificially 

 limiting future bear expansion. FWP feels programs that implement management 

 techniques such as guard dogs, sanitation, etc., in combination with removing livestock- 

 killing bears, will be a more productive approach in building tolerance for expanded bear 

 distribution. However, in situations where it is mutually agreeable by the producer and 

 FWP, FWP will also work toward allotment retirement, relocation, or buyout where it is 

 determined to be necessary for maintenance of a healthy grizzly bear population. These 

 three options will only be pursued under mutual agreement between FWP and the 

 producers or other interests. 



Linkages/Corridor: Typically, southwestern and west central Montana mountain ranges 

 are linked by relatively large intermountain valleys that are primarily in private 

 ownership. Land use on the private lands is dominated by agriculture (both ranching and 

 farming). These private lands provide significant and high quality winter and year round 

 habitat for a large proportion of southwest and west central deer, elk, and antelope 

 populations. They also provide high quality riparian and wetland habitat as well as key 

 upland habitat for a wide variety of native nongame species found in Montana. Although 

 these same habitats are important in providing connections between primarily federally 

 owned mountain ranges for bears, their greatest value lies in the habitat they provide for 

 many other wildlife species. In short, our habitat programs are designed to conserve 



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