will continue to encourage the development of effective non-lethal damage management techniques and 

 equipment. FWP will cooperate with city, county, state, tribal and federal governments to develop model 

 systems of managing attractants, provide incentives for property attractant management, and pursue 

 penalties that result in compliance with attractant storage regulations. 



In FWPs judgment, the key to dealing with this issue is the same as all conflict situations in that 

 prevention is preferable to responding after damage has occurred. Teaching people how to avoid 

 problems is fundamental to this approach along with rapid response if damage does occur. FWP will 

 work to keep bears from obtaining unnatural foods or becoming habituated to humans. From a broad 

 perspective, general conflict guidelines will be followed. FWP response to property' damage will, 

 however, also include those techniques currently employed through the Partners for Life program 

 including the use of Karelian bear dogs and on-site aversive conditioning. 



FWP will use programs such as "Living with Wildlife" to further these goals. "Living with Wildlife" is a 

 grant program developed by FWP and funded by the Montana Legislature to promote the successful 

 coexistence of people and wildlife in urban and suburban settings. The program will fund projects that 

 emphasize local involvement, partnerships, cost sharing, innovation, prevention, and proactive solutions 

 to human/wildlife conflicts. Although FWP administers "Living with Wildlife", other agencies, local 

 governments, NGOs, and private citizens will develop and implement most funded projects. 



Conflict Management Guidelines 



Response to bear-human conflicts is prescribed by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Guidelines. FWP follows 

 the protocols in the Guidelines and participates in interagency consultations on responses to bear-human 

 conflicts. FWP will continue to abide by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Guidelines. 



Successful co-existence and social acceptance of grizzly bears is largely dependent on prevention and 

 mitigation of human-bear conflicts. The cause, severity, and appropriate response to human-bear 

 conflicts often varies considerably from one incident to another, making a broad range of management 

 applications desirable to wildlife managers. Outside of the recovery zones, greater consideration will be 

 given to humans when bears and people come into conflict, provided problems are not the result of 

 intentional human actions. Agency management of conflict bears will be based on risk management 

 protocols that consider the impacts to humans as well as the impacts to the bear population, and will 

 range from no action to lethal control. FWP will use an effective "rapid response" system for conflict bear 

 determination and control, and will employ any technique that is legal, effective, and appropriate to 

 manage the conflict (Appendix F). 



Response Actions 



1. No Action : FWP may decide to take no action when the circumstances of the conflict do not warrant 

 control or the opportunity for control is low. 



2. Aversive Conditioning, Deterrence, or Protection : FWP may employ various options that deter or 

 preclude the bear from additional problematic activities (i.e., electrical fencing, bear prooflng 

 buildings or containers, etc.). 



3. Capture : FWP will initiate capture operations when other options are not applicable or where human 

 safety is a concern. Capture efforts will be initiated when they are practical, and in a timely manner. 



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