the Selway-Bitterroot (1,340,681 acres, 2095 mi-) and the Gospel Hump (200,464 acres, 313 mi=) Wilderness 

 Areas. The area contains 3 major mountain ranges, the Salmon River Mountains (south of the Salmon 

 River), the Clearwater Mountains which extend from the Salmon River north to the upper Clearwater 

 River drainage, and the Bitterroot Mountains along the Montana-Idaho state line. 



Alternative 1. Preparatory Planning - FWPs preferred alternative 



Under this alternative, preparatory planning would be undertaken for the anticipated presence of grizzly 

 bears within the ecosystem whether they arrive through natural migration or through a USFWS decision 

 to reintroduce as per their Record of Decision on the Final EIS for Grizzly Bear Recovery in the Bitterroot 

 Ecosystem. It is important to note, therefore, that this approach does not require an active relocation 

 component and FWP will not unilaterally reintroduce bears under this alternative. Instead, FWP would 

 work with agencies, local citizens, local businesses and other interested parties to ensure that provisions 

 are in place should bears occupy the recovery zone at some time in the future. 



This approach would include an intense sanitation and public education campaign. A sanitation 

 program is already being implemented by Defenders of Wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation. It 

 is envisioned that this would conHnue and/or be expanded to include efforts by FWP, USPS, permittees, 

 and private landowners in and around the recovery zone. The Survey of Attractant Sites, Selway- 

 Bitterroot Ecosystem which was conducted by Brown Bear Resources, Inc. would be utilized as a tool in 

 addressing the areas where sanitation problems exist. Public education efforts would include: 

 presentations at schools in and around the area to teach children about grizzly bears and how to recreate 

 safely in grizzly bear country; presentations to all civic clubs and interested organizations about grizzly 

 bears and how to recreate safely in grizzly bear country, and placing of informahve signs at all trail heads 

 in and around the recovery area. 



Benefits 



• Necessarv steps to prepare the ecosystem and the public prior to potential bear arrival would be in 

 place. 



• Anticipatory approach that includes citizen involvement from the onset. 



• Education and public outreach would be initiated prior to potential bear arrival. 



• Measures aimed at reducing human-bear conflict would be in place prior to potential bear arrival. 



• Public opposition should be lessened with this approach. 



Challenges 



• Requires significant resource commitments up front. 



• Active recovery would not be initiated immediately, if at all. 



• May be difficult to source sufficient funding without presence of bears. 



• Public opposition to possible reintroduction. 



Alternative 2. No Action 



Under this alternative, no active recovery efforts would be implemented. It is possible that grizzly bears 

 could make their way to this ecosystem (some have already come close). However, timeframes for 

 recovery would be unreasonable (hundreds of years) to reach the recovery goal of 200+ bears. Further, no 

 preparatory action would be taken. 



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