Game Status Animal: There is opposition to having the grizzly bear's status changed to 

 a "game species". The grizzly bear is currently listed as a game species in Montana. 

 This would not change based on the program developed. 



Grizzly Bears in Other Ecosystems: Some commenters discussed the status of 

 grizzly bears in other ecosystems or recommended programs outside southwestern 

 Montana. Other documents and processes cover programs in these areas. 



Keep People Out of Bear Habitat: There were suggestions that FWP work to keep 

 people out of bear habitats. This is not possible and, in fact, bears are expanding their 

 distribution into previously unoccupied areas. Trying to remove people as grizzlies 

 expand is unworkable and would limit future expansion of the population. A program to 

 manage both people and bears is a more productive approach to long-term 

 conservation. This is the only implementable course of action. 



Feed the Bears: It was suggested that FWP consider feeding bears during bad food 

 years and in response to declines in natural foods. FWP believes this is unworkable at 

 the ecosystem scale. While we do consider programs such as redistribution of livestock 

 carcasses to minimize conflicts while still allowing bear use of this food source, we do 

 not see large-scale feeding as workable or desirable. A better approach is to promote 

 an increased distribution of bears to access a variety of areas and habitats to 

 accommodate environmental change. 



FWP Should be Responsible for Grizzly Bear/Livestock Conflict Management - 

 Not Wildlife Services: Some people stated that they would prefer FWP to handle 

 livestock/bear conflicts. They felt that federal Wildlife Services failed to emphasize non- 

 lethal or preventative control programs. Because Wildlife Services is often the first 

 agency called on to address a bear-livestock conflict, FWP will continue to involve 

 Wildlife Services. The two agencies have a current cooperative agreement and both 

 agencies expect the cooperation to continue. Hopefully, as Montana gains more 

 experience with the ongoing implementation of the plan, we will come to expect better 

 prevention and non-lethal management of conflicts. FWP will continue to work with 

 Wildlife Services in these efforts. 



Wildlife Over Livestock or Commercial Use on Public Lands: Some say that public 

 wildlife should always take precedence over livestock or commercial use on public lands 

 in southwestern Montana. Wildlife, however, needs private lands as well as public 

 lands to survive. A cooperative program that blends the needs of wildlife with those of 

 private landowners through ongoing management is described in the plan as a more 

 productive approach. 



Impacts of Snowmobiles: Commenters suggested that FWP address the impacts or 

 potential impacts of snowmobiles on grizzlies. There is some potential for snowmobiles 

 to directly affect bears through disturbance at some times. It was suggested that 

 snowmobiles might also indirectly affect bears by redistributing ungulates, which could 

 lead to less carrion available for bears. 



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