Bill sets guidelines for grizzly delisting

by Caven Wade

UM Legislative News Service

University of Montana School of Journalism

A bill that sets up rules and guidelines that Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks must follow to establish the state's viability of managing grizzly bears following removal from the endangered species list is on its way to the governor's desk.

Sen. Bruce Gillespie, R-Ethridge, is sponsoring Senate Bill 295, which sets up several guidelines and rules for FWP, from monitoring mortality rates of grizzly bears to allowing livestock owners or authorized personnel to use nonlethal preventive measures when bears are attacking livestock.

“It will be better for the grizzly bears and better for Montana. It takes into account some of the ranchers' needs and concerns, but it also deals with those wanting to protect the grizzly bears. It takes in some rules on how you can manage a problem grizzly bear,” Denley Loge, R-St. Regis, who is carrying the bill in the House, said. “The bill does a lot. It’s quite controversial, but it’s one of the good things for Montana to take over that management and also takes into account the management for the ranchers.”

Loge said the bill offers the ability for grizzly bears to be moved away from properties and livestock if they are causing concerns within an area.

SB 295 was passed by the Senate on a party-line vote 35-15, and later passed by the House 73-27.

The bill makes it so that the Fish and Wildlife Commission has to set up a mortality quota for the grizzly bear before delisting, to make sure that numbers don’t fall into endangered species territory again.

Rep. Ed Butcher, R-Winifred, spoke in support of the bill, and said it’s time the state consider ranchers and how their livelihood is being affected by rogue grizzly bears. He said something needs to be done about this problem now before it affects any more Montana ranchers.

Rep. Tom France, D-Missoula, spoke against the bill during the floor discussion, and said that while the bill is a solid foundation, and several efforts were made to get opponents of the bill in-line with management, FWP was not willing to budge on managing grizzly bears with their priorities in mind instead of taking into consideration conservation groups’ ideas for management following delisting.

Caven Wade is a student reporter with the UM Legislative News Service, a partnership of the University of Montana School of Journalism, the Montana Broadcasters Association, the Montana Newspaper Association and the Greater Montana Foundation.