further recovery. Incorporating the grizzly as another component of FWP's ongoing 

 programs for all wildlife is a more productive approach. In addition, the approach 

 outlined in this plan does allow FWP to modify the program, if necessary, and adapt the 

 program in the future as more is learned. 



FWP recognizes that habitat changes in the PCA (loss of whitebark pine, etc.) could 

 result in increased importance of habitats outside and will respond to those changes if 

 they occur. 



Population Monitoring 



Grizzly bears are a species that present challenges in population monitoring. To meet 

 these challenges, the preferred approach includes: 



> FWP will estimate densities using the best available data from research, 

 distribution changes, DNA samples, and more. 



> FWP will monitor unduplicated females with cubs. 



> FWP will monitor mortality including timing and causes and gather survivorship 

 data. 



> FWP will use verified sightings to document changes in bear distribution. 



> FWP will conduct research in cooperation with other entities to obtain more 

 detailed population information where needed. 



> Monitoring will be coordinated with other states as part of a cooperative effort 

 and presented in annual reports. 



> Population trend, in combination with habitat conditions, demographics, 

 human/bear conflicts, social tolerance, and research findings, will be FWP's guide 

 to decisions regarding population management. 



As an alternative, FWP has considered the collection of population data in a manner that 

 would provide statistically precise population estimates. For a slowly reproducing 

 species like grizzly bears in which even a maximum lambda will always be close to 1.0 

 (meaning the populations don't fluctuate greatly on an armual basis), it will seldom be 

 possible to have a 95% confidence interval that does not overlap 1.0. However, in FWP's 

 judgment, using the weight of evidence collected in different ways and multiple sources 

 is a more practical and meaningftil approach for assessing population trend. Population 

 trend will be FWP's guide to management decisions. 



Future Distribution 



Grizzly bear distribution in this area is increasing. 



> FWP expects grizzly bear distribution to continue to increase. 



> FWP will address linkage by providing opportunities for bears to naturally reoccupy 

 suitable, but unoccupied habitat, and will continue to work with Idaho, Wyoming, and 

 the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee to address this issue. 



