Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks solicited public comment through a series of formal 

 public hearings held during May and June in Bozeman, Missoula, Big Sky, Erinis, Dillon, 

 Big Timber, Columbus, Red Lodge, Billings, Gardiner, Livingston, West Yellowstone, 

 and Butte. Oral comments were received and recorded at these hearings. In addition, 

 written comment was accepted for 90 days through July 5, 2002. 



One hundred seventy-one people attended the public hearings, and 32 offered oral 

 testimony. Written comments were received from approximately 7300 people, 846 of 

 whom were Montana residents. FWP also received three petitions with approximately 

 100 signatures. Some of the signatures were from kindergarten classes, and it was 

 difficult to tell how many individuals signed. 



Comments were used to improve the final plan. 



Major comments and issues and our response are as follows: 



Values: Many people commented on the value of maintaining a viable grizzly bear 

 population in southwest Montana and on their own personal values associated with this 

 species. People in Montana as well as people nationally and internationally view this 

 species as very important and associate many differing personal values with it. 

 Comments stated that the grizzly bear is a symbol of freedom, the United States, strength, 

 serenity, fear, motherhood, peace, power, courage, wildness, wilderness, the West, the 

 balance of nature, diversity, a sacred animal, one of God's creatures, a valuable game 

 species, environmentalist meddling, and many more as varied as the individuals 

 commenting. 



As suggested in the wide array of comments, people also value the grizzly bear for its 

 role in the ecosystem. This plan, by addressing the needs of those who live, work, and 

 recreate in this area, should allow the bear to expand into those areas that are biologically 

 suitable and socially acceptable. This will result in grizzly bears expanding their 

 ecological role into additional habitats in southwestern Montana. 



FWP recognizes these personal and ecological values associated with this species. 

 Montana's program will provide for a secure grizzly population and allow people to 

 pursue their individual values, whatever they may be. The constraint on these pursuits is 

 that collectively they should support the long-term conservation and maintenance of a 

 healthy grizzly population. 



Perceptions: Comments received were based on the perception that the grizzly bear 

 population in southwestern Montana was declining. As the current data shows, this is not 

 the case. Because of this perception, however, some felt that the bear should be 

 "protected" to a higher degree. It is also apparent that people who don't live in close 

 proximity to grizzly bears are generally happy to have them left alone or "unmanaged". 

 Yet because the concerns of those who live with grizzlies must be addressed to build 

 support for the bear, as well as for its population expansion, an active management 

 program as described in this plan will be required. 



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