4. Bears displaying food-conditioned, or habituated behaviors, or damaging property may 

 be relocated, aversively conditioned, or removed based on specific details of the incident. 

 Management authorities will make this judgment after considering the cause, location, 

 and severity of the incident or incidents. FWP will inform the affected people of the 

 desired management direction. 



5. Bears may be preemptively moved when they are in areas where they are likely to come 

 into conflicts with humans or their property. Conversely, people may be temporarily 

 excluded fi-om an area if the situation has a high risk to the public, e.g. a carcass on a trail 

 being fed on by grizzlies. 



6. Bears may be relocated as many times as FWP determines is appropriate, especially in 

 years where mortality may be excessive in other areas. 



7. Bears involved in chronic, significant, or, in the opinion of FWP, have a high probability 

 to cause significant or chronic depredations, will be removed when it is practical and in a 

 timely manner. 



8. Bears relocated because of nuisance activities will be released in a location where the 

 probability to cause additional damage is low. Authorities have and will continue to 

 cooperate to provide adequate and available sites for relocations. Bears not suitable for 

 relocation or release will be removed. 



9. All grizzly bears captured in management actions that are to be released into the wild will 

 be permanently marked with a unique identifying tattoo and radio collared as necessary 

 to follow their movements. 



An alternative we considered was to provide unfettered flexibility to livestock operators and 

 property owners to deal with conflict situations. However, in FWP's judgment, this approach 

 will fail to provide the necessary assurances for long-term conservation. No other FWP 

 programs for a managed species allows for flexibility without constraints. 



Disposition Criteria for Bears Removed in Management Actions 



Captured grizzly bears identified for removal may be given to public research institutions or 

 public zoological parks for appropriate non-release educational or scientific purposes as per state 

 laws and regulations. Grizzly bears not suitable for these purposes will be killed. FWP will 

 direct the disposifion of all parts of a bear killed for any purpose. 



Hunting 



> Regulated harvest will be a part of Montana's long-term conservation program. 



> Any hunting program will be justified and open to public review, similar to the processes 

 used for all other managed species in Montana, and coordinated with surrounding states to 

 avoid excessive mortality. 



> The female segment of the population will be given additional protections in any proposed 

 hunting program. For example, the killing of females accompanied by young will be 

 prohibited. 



> The purpose for a hunt will be to manage "for the species," and garnering additional public 

 support and ownership to ensure its long-term survival and reoccupancy of habitats. 



> FWP will encourage hunters and other recreationists to carry pepper spray in bear habitat. 



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