Speak up for Grizzly Bears

Tell the Fish and Wildlife Commission to Adopt Rules to Better Protect Grizzly Bears on Public Lands by November 20th

Overview

The Fish and Wildlife Commission is completing a rule making process to implement changes made to Montana law by SB 295 which passed the state legislature last spring. Although the new law addressed many aspects of grizzly bear management, its primary focus was the establishment of a system by which private individuals could get a permit to kill grizzly bears they deem threatening or in persistently, close proximity to their livestock, other domestic animals, or residence. An in an unprecedented move, livestock owners could get a permit to kill grizzly bears on public land! No such permit system exists for any other species.

While Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance argued against the creation of the permit system during the legislative session, as did many of you, the permit system is now the law. Our goal is to improve the rules governing its implementation in order to minimize unnecessary grizzly bear mortality in the future (note, the permit system will only go into effect should grizzly bears lose federal protections under the Endangered Species Act. Montana is adopting these rules as part of efforts championed by Gov. Greg Gianforte and the Republican-led legislature to de-list grizzly bears). Please help improve grizzly bear management by commenting on the proposed rule by Nov. 20th. Thank you!

Download the Draft Rule and Public Hearing agenda here.
Download SB 295 here.

Suggested Talking Points

We suggest focusing your comments on three new rules related to the kill-permit system that need to be improved. For greatest impact, please customize your comments.

1.      New Rule I (ARM 12.9.1404) Definitions
The draft rule does not define important yet highly ambiguous and subjective criteria for when FWP may consider issuing a permit to private individual to kills a grizzly bear. These terms include when a grizzly bear may be considered to be “threatening,” or in “persistent presence” or “proximity” of people, livestock, or residences. Lack of clear definitions will lead to unnecessary confusion and contention. Please tell the Commission the new rule should define these terms in a way that can be consistently applied by managers.

2.      New Rule V (ARM 12.9.1408) Grizzly Bear Mortalities that Apply to the Quota and Mortality Threshold
All grizzly bears killed under this new law should count towards the annual quota established by the Commission. The quota is intended to limit annual human-caused mortality to biologically-sustainable levels. However, the draft rule is ambiguous and may not count bears killed outside the population cores or in critical linkage zones. This will undermine grizzly bears continued population recovery and essential connectivity. Tell the Commission that all bears, regardless of where they are killed, should count toward the annual quota

3.      New Rule VII (ARM 12.9.1410) – The new rule will request that
Thanks to changes enacted in response to our and our partners suggestions at an earlier stage of rulemaking, the draft rule requires livestock owners must utilize non-lethal measures before requesting a permit to kill a grizzly bear on public land. The language still needs to be strengthened, however. Please tell the Commission to add language requiring the proactive use of at least two (2) non-lethal measures to prevent conflict, that the measures be employed long-enough to have had an opportunity to be effective, and that their use be documented in writing or verified on site by FWP’s bear management specialist in writing before issuing a permit.

How to Comment

1. In Person - On Nov. 17th
The Commission is holding a public meeting to receive public comment on the proposed rules on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. The meeting is via conference call on the Zoom Meeting platform.
Log on to Zoom and enter the meeting ID (below) or dial-in by phoneat 1-206-337-9723
Meeting ID: 819 7121 7560
Passcode: 141764

2. In Writing – Due Nov 20, 2023
Submit written comments by email or mail.
Email:
fwpwld@mt.gov, Subject: Grizzly Bear ARM

Mail:
Wildlife Division
ATTN: Grizzly Bear ARM
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks
PO Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620-0701