2. A systematic method to survey public and professional sectors and their perceptions of 

 population trends may be developed. 



3. Public opinions and perceptions from annual tentative hunting season regulation meetings will 

 be solicited and evaluated. 



4. Results from population and habitat research will be consulted. Specific changes in age structure, 

 unreported mortality from marked bears, population densities, habitat use, and habitat quality 

 will be considered. 



5. Northwest Montana's grizzly bears are linked to those in Canada and Idaho and as a 

 consequence, land use changes in those states will be monitored. Management policies will also 

 be evaluated in relation to FWP policies. If excessive mortality is occurring in a neighboring state 

 or province, the FWP program will be adjusted to ensure survival of the population, and FWP 

 will work with that state or province to reduce mortality. 



6. Changes in the population status in Glacier National Park and on tribal lands will be gathered 

 through discussions with the appropriate management agency. 



7. Realized or perceived changes in the price of grizzly bear parts will be evaluated. Such changes 

 may affect the level of profiteering. 



8. An attempt will be made to document grizzly bear range expansions or contractions through 

 data gathering. This data will help evaluate changes in the population status. 



9. Based on all available evidence, changes in management areas or management unit boundaries 

 will be evaluated. 



10. The number of control actions will be determined annually. If a trend becomes apparent, then 

 the program will be re-evaluated and adjustments made to ensure the population is not being 

 excessively impacted. The number of transplants from, or into, the ecosystems will be 

 documented. 



11. Evaluation of mortality statistics will be conducted. It is recognized that not all bear deaths are 

 detected and recorded. FWP will, however, try to be as complete as possible. The following 

 mortality statistics are of particular importance: 



a. Male/female sex ratio. 



b. Evaluate age structure of the harvest: ages should be calculated separately for males and 

 females. 



c. Determine total mortality: trends in total number of bears should be evaluated in 

 conjunction with other population estimates and/or statistics to determine if changes in 

 mortality quotas are needed. It is anticipated that human caused mortalit)' quotas will be 

 conservative at 4% or less of the total population on a 6 year running average with no 

 more than 30% females to allow for continued increased populations. This 

 recommendation is based on the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan, on past experience with 

 grizzly bear management in northwestern Montana as reported in the Programmatic EIS 

 for that area and subsequent updates. 



12. Annually monitor, record, and evaluate litter sizes throughout the ecosystems by cooperative 

 ground surveys, aerial surveys, and from the trend monitoring sample of 25 or more adult 

 females marked with radios. 



13. FWP will evaluate hunter effort if a hunt occurs. Changes in hunter effort, location of hunt, etc., 

 will substantially aid interpretation of population statistics. 



14. FWP will evaluate and implement ways of reducing mistaken I.D. and accidental killing of 

 grizzly bears by black bear hunters through education and public outreach programs. 



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