There is no question that advances in snowmobile technology have changed the 

 potential for impacts to bears. Newer machines are able to access areas today that 

 were not possible a decade ago. 



There is very little data available on these issues. The plan allows FWP and others to 

 monitor the situation. FWP will address the needs of the bear if future information 

 indicates that such action is warranted. 



Mandatory Pepper Spray Use: It was suggested that FWP mandate the carrying of 

 pepper spray. While the plan as proposed supports the carrying of pepper spray and 

 use information and education to encourage its use, we do not feel mandatory rules are 

 necessary at this time. FWP expects to establish criteria, in conjunction with the 

 USFWS by December 31 , 2002 which will be used to determine when a 

 recommendation for mandatory use of pepper spray will be made to the FWP 

 Commission. 



Human Safety and Nuisance Guidelines: There was some concern that any bear 

 damaging property would be killed or removed, or that the guidelines are too open to 

 interpretation and too many bears would be removed. A review of our current 

 approaches to these situations shows this is not the case in practice. Each incident is 

 evaluated based on the particular circumstances and guidelines are conservatively 

 applied. The proposed plan continues this approach. 



ORV Monitoring: It was suggested that the plan monitor ORV impacts outside the 

 PCA as well as within. Language was added to the plan to reflect this change. 



Purchase Corridors: It was suggested FWP purchase corridors between ecosystems. 

 FWP doesn't have sufficient resources to purchase all of these areas. A cooperative 

 program with agencies, private non-profit land trusts, and private landowners is more 

 effective. For additional response, see the section on "linkage". 



Bus Tours: It was suggested that FWP promote bus tours in Yellowstone instead of 

 personal vehicles to cut down on noise and/or pollution. This issue is outside the scope 

 of this plan, and authority for this rests with the National Park Service. 



Protection of Female Bears: It was suggested that the plan provide additional 

 protections for female grizzly bears. The plan does so in terms of nuisance guidelines 

 and mortality quotas which are structured to provide additional protection for female 

 bears. 



Area Closures: Some comments indicated support for area closures to protect bears 

 and also expressed concerns that any such closures be temporary. With active 

 management as proposed, FWP does not feel that permanent closure of areas to 

 people will be necessary. There may be times and/or places where seasonal closures 

 are appropriate (for example, FWP closes elk winter ranges during certain months) or a 



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