during May and June 2004 (Great Falls, Kalispell, Missoula, Choteau, Eureka, Hamilton, Helena, Libby, 

 Lincoln, Seeley Lake, and Thompson Falls). FWP solicited written comments throughout 2004 via news 

 releases, press interviews, and personal contacts. During these meetings, FWP sought to identify issues 

 likely to involve significant impacts and those issues not likely to involve significant impacts, as well as 

 alternatives for grizzly bear management. 



To further develop issues and ideas for possible alternatives, FWP held a series of facilitated meetings in 

 Missoula, Kalispell, and Great Falls with interested groups and individuals during September 2004. FWP 

 invited the participation of those individuals and groups that had expressed interest in additional 

 participation as well as other affected agencies. Following these meetings, a draft management plan was 

 produced and resubmitted to a broader group of interested parties including those who attended the 

 September 2004 meetings. Additional facilitated meetings were held in these same cities during 

 September 2005 to review and discuss approaches presented in the preliminary draft plan with the 

 purpose of fine-tuning the draft. Ail of the meetings were open to the public. 



Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Goals for the Grizzly Bear 



FWP has statewide goals for wildlife resources. More specifically, this plan deals with grizzly bears in 

 western Montana as an approved plan is in place for southwestern Montana. The goals of this plan are; 



L Statewide Goal - To provide the people of Montana and visitors with optimum outdoor 



recreational opportunities emphasizing the tangible and intangible values of wildlife and natural 

 and cultural resources of aesthetic, scenic, historic, scientific, and archaeological significance in a 

 manner that: 



a. Is consistent with the capabilities and requirements of the resources 



b. Recognizes present and future human needs and desires, and 



c. Ensures maintenance and enhancement of the quality of the environment. 



2. Wildlife Program Goal - To protect, perpetuate, enhance, and regulate the wise use of wildlife 

 resources for public benefit now and in the future. 



3. Grizzly Bear Management Goal - To manage for a recovered grizzly bear population in western 

 Montana and to provide for a continuing expansion of that population into areas that are 

 biologically suitable and socially acceptable. This should allow FWP to achieve and maintain 

 population levels that support managing the bear as a game animal along with other species of 

 native wildlife and provide some regulated hunting when and where appropriate. 



These goals will be achieved by addressing the following issues identified early in the planning process: 

 human safety and education, habitat and population monitoring and management, future distribution, 

 motorized and non-motorized trails programs, livestock conflicts, property damage, conflict guidelines, 

 hunting opportunities, enforcement concerns, and funding. The success of grizzlv bear management in 

 Montana will be contingent upon FWPs ability to address these issues in a way that builds social support 

 for grizzlies. 



President Theodore Roosevelt stated: "The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets 

 which it must turn over to the next generation increased and not impaired in value". It is FWPs hope that 

 this plan will allow the next generation of Montanans to manage a grizzly bear populaHon that has 

 increased in both numbers and distribution in western Montana. 



