>■ Adjustments to trail access and uses should be developed through local citizen involvement 

 using the best available science. 



> FWP will evaluate snowmobile programs to ensure they avoid impacting grizzly bears during 

 denning periods, including den entrance and emergence. 



Major changes are currently underway to address the issue of trails, trail management, off-road 

 vehicle use, and how they affect wildlife, including bears. Many people, including 

 sportspersons, have recognized the need for change. Working with other management agencies; 

 trails, including snowmobile trails, could be rerouted, seasonally closed, or closed entirely if 

 impacts prove significant. 



Effective July 1, 2001, motorized, wheeled cross-country travel is prohibited on National Forest 

 lands yearlong. The purpose of this restriction is to protect riparian areas, wetlands, crucial 

 wildlife habitat, threatened or endangered species, soils and vegetation, aquatic resources, and/or 

 to reduce user conflicts. The policy affects any motorized, wheeled vehicle, but not 

 snowmobiles. Under the new policy, motorcycles may use a single-track trail or road if it is 

 open to motorized vehicles, but ATVs and other four-wheeled vehicles cannot use that single- 

 track road or trail. Several exceptions will apply. Cross-country travel will continue to be 

 allowed for military needs, fire suppression, search and rescue, or law enforcement vehicles in 

 emergencies. Forest users can also drive cross-country to campsites within 300 feet of existing 

 roads or trails, after locating their campsite in a non-motorized fashion. As part of the decision, 

 national forests will identify areas where more detailed local travel plans should be developed. 

 FWP, local groups, and other interested parties should be active participants in such plans. 



FWP has developed an Environmental Impact Statement on the trails program. This document 

 recommends that all trail activities be coordinated with a biologist to avoid unacceptable impacts 

 to wildlife. These processes are underway because changes in technology of off-road vehicles 

 including snowmobiles has dramatically changed use patterns on public lands. These issues are 

 being addressed, and it is FWP's intention that the needed changes to programs will also be 

 developed and implemented with involvement of local citizens. 



An alternative considered was to deal with bear specific trail restrictions prior to reoccupancy. 

 However, in our judgement, this approach would result in unnecessarily impacting user groups 

 without clear e\ idence of a problem. FWP's efforts on this issue are intended to build higher 

 levels of social acceptance across user groups while still providing the necessary mechanisms to 

 respond should problems occur. 



Livestock Conflicts 



m 



> Wildlife Services will continue to be the lead agency dealing with livestock depredation 

 (MOU Appendices D and E). 



> FWP focus will be on preventive programs to minimize livestock conflicts with priority 

 toward those areas with a history of conflict or currently occupied by bears. 



> FWP will work with beekeepers to provide electric fences for all apiaries accessible to bears, 

 and FWP will re-evaluate the guidelines for bear depredation to beehives and modify if 

 needed. 



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