Benefits 



• Ensures all areas of the ecosystem are occupied, and most areas have good densities of bears. 



• Will probably speed the rate of distributional increase in some areas outside the recovery zone. 



Challenges 



• Many people would question the need for accelerating recovery when in fact evidence indicates 

 recovery has already largely occurred. 



• Accelerated efforts to increase the population may reduce existing tolerance for this healthy bear 

 population. 



• Results of the DNA population estimate will not be available until late 2006, and the public may be 

 unwilling to change program direction without this information. 



Alternative 3. Reduce Recovery Efforts 



This alternative acknowledges the status of the NCDE population and changes programs by reducing 

 efforts in some areas. Previous reviews by FWP in 1986, 1991 and 1995 indicated that this area has a 

 significant and healthy bear population. If such estimates are validated by the DNA population estimate 

 project results in early 2007 it could provide the basis for changing program direction. Population 

 estimates in past reviews were similar to levels currently estimated for the Yellowstone area which is 

 being considered for delisting. The population in the NCDE is also connected with that to the north in 

 Canada. With this alternative the department would scale back some programs and/or research on 

 grizzly bears in the NCDE. The benefits and challenges of this approach are as follows: 



Benefits 



• The money and other resources preserved by scaling back efforts in the NCDE could be used to 

 support recovery in other areas. 



• This approach acknowledges the biological status of the population in this area. 



• It could potentially enhance public support for recovery in other areas if it is seen that progress in 

 recovery does result in changes in program direction. 



Challenges 



• Failure to maintain programs on a par with the grizzly bear population could result in escalated 

 conflicts and/or problems, ultimately eroding public support. 



• The public will still demand updated information and assurances that the population is healthy. 

 Scaling back on population monitoring will reduce public confidence in the program. 



• There is a public expectation that bear programs built around conflict management, public education 

 and community support will continue. 



• Difficult to scale back management efforts while the bear is listed as threatened without losing public 

 support. 



• The ability to achieve or maintain distribution increases and connections with other ecosystems may 

 be reduced if programs are dramatically reduced. 



• Delisting would be delayed with loss of public support. 



Bitterroot Recovery Zone and Surrounding Area 



The Bitterroot ecosystem is one of the largest continuous blocks of federal land remaining in the lower 48 

 states. Any recovery effort here will require cooperation with the State of Idaho. The core of the 

 ecosystem contains the Selway-Bitterroot and Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Areas. 



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