> FWP will conduct town meetings in southwestern Montana explaining the programs 

 and cultivating local interests. 



> FWP will explore opportunities to form local work groups in Big Sky, Red Lodge, 

 Ennis, Dillon, AlderA^irginia City, Emigrant/Gardiner, Bozeman, and Livingston. 

 Additional groups may be formed as needed or existing groups with interests in these 

 issues could be identified and contacted. 



> These local groups will not only react to problems after they happen. It is FWP's 

 hope they will anticipate conflicts, prepare for them, and try to prevent them. The 

 goal of adaptive management will be promoted by regular monitoring and making 

 policy changes when needed with the input of local residents and other interests. 



Secondary and Cumulative Impacts 



Successful implementation of the program will have some secondary and cumulative 

 impacts on other programs and some individuals. 



Implementing the habitat measures, and the preventative management programs, will 

 undoubtedly benefit other species of wildlife in Montana, especially black bears. Black 

 bear issues parallel those surrounding grizzlies, and the programs recommended should 

 assist FWP with their management as well. Also, when habitats are managed in a way 

 that allows occupancy and expansion of the grizzly bear population, many other species 

 benefit. For example, areas where road accesses are adequately managed benefit elk and 

 other species as well as bears. There will also be economic benefits to Montana ft-om an 

 expanded bear population. Many people travel to, and relocate to, Montana because of 

 the state's diverse and abundant wildlife resources. In addition, the value of many 

 properties in Montana are enhanced by the presence of wildlife and the opportunities for 

 associated recreation and potential harvests. 



There is the potential that population levels of black bears could be somewhat reduced 

 due to the presence of grizzly bears in currently unoccupied habitats. Based on the 

 current status of black bears in and adjacent to areas currently occupied by grizzlies in 

 Montana, impacts are not anticipated to be significant. 



Other agencies that manage lands in southwestern Montana could see increased costs due 

 to expanded food storage rules, habitat management changes, and so on. Most of these 

 changes are already occurring in the areas that could be occupied by grizzly bears in the 

 near term, and the public has clearly indicated support for these efforts. Also, because 

 grizzly bears have always had and will always have a high public profile, public pressure 

 could result in FWP and other agencies reprioritizing programs to focus more effort on 

 grizzly bear management. It is FWP's hope that by managing grizzlies as one more 

 component of our wildlife programs such repriorifization would have minimal affect on 

 other programs. 



While there are many benefits to expanded grizzly bear populations, there is no denying 

 that there will be impacts to livestock producers and property owners due to conflicts 

 with grizzly bears as the population expands. Implementing the programs recommended 



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