ATTENTION: Grizzly Bears in the Windriver Mountain

[slpbear]

For all you fellow Jeepers/Off Roaders: The Wyoming Fish and Game Plan to distribute the Gizzly Bear into the Windriver Mountain Range Of Wyoming. Currently the Grizzly Bear is Listed as an Endangered Species in Wyoming and the bear is protected, hence any conflicts out of the PCA, Primary Conservation Area, are in favor of the Bear. The plan is to delist The Grizzly. Problem: WG&F had 11 Public Meetings through out state, no Public Comments were allowed just questions. When Questions were asked the answers were vague or "We don't know Yet." The WG&F did not have a management plan in place at the public meetings, just where they were going to allow the Grizzly Bear. There are currently 680 known Grizzly Bears in the Greater Yellowstone Area, or PCA, Primary Conservation Area. The Forest Service EIS, Enviormaental Impact Statement, Calls for four Alternatives and prefer Alternative #2. The other Alternatives call for closing campgrounds and Roads when human Bear contacts occur. Infact Alternitive 3 calls for closing 560 miles of roadway and 4 calls for closing 1900 miles of roads. Altenative 2 leaves the forest as multi use and treats the Grizzly as a nusance Bear when conflicts occur.
In 2004 there were two Grizzly/Human Contacts where the human was serisouly injured, both cases involved Hunters and in one case the Bear was killed by a fellow hunter. Currently the human/Bear conflicts favor the Bear. WG&F were unable to give the numbers of Human/Bear conflists in 2004 but we know that these occurances are rising and only here about the real bad cases.
You can get more information @ http://gf.state.wy.us/wildlife/GBOccupancy/ We in these areas are not in favor of WG&F plan do to the fact they do not have a management plan in place and we are afraid the Forest Service in Washington will pick one of the other alternatives other than #2. We would be in favor of the plan if WG&F had a management plan in place prior to the delisting of the Grizzly and The Forest Service picks Alternete # 2 in their Final EIS. Coments have to be in Cheyenne no later than December 31, 2004. bottom Line is they are trying to close the forest down to human use. That is the general feeling of the people in the six effected counties. They did a phone poll of 1015 Wyoming Residence of which oly 234 of the people polled live in the six effected counties. That poll can be seen at the above site. thanks Dave

[calamaridog]

slpbear,

Hi, I've never been to Lander but I used to frequent Yellowstone, Cody, and the Beartooths for summer vacations when I was growing up. I'm surprised an disappointed that WG&F is so poorly organized and disgusted at the lack of input encouraged from those affected. I expect this sort of thing from the Feds but not from the State.

In a perfect situation, where assurances could be made that "problem" bears would be dealt with, I would support a limited reintroduction. But this is not a perfect situation and such promises can seldom be guarenteed.

Then again, the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone has been fairly successful.

I've hiked, fished, and hunted in Grizzly country and appreciate the potential for problems. I can see why people would be hesitant even to embrace the second proposal, especially when there is no clear management plan and public input.

I'd be interested in updates and if you hear anything new, please post it here.

[slpbear]

Yeah you can say that the Timberwolf was a good success, however there was no public input in the intruduction of the Timber Wolf in the Greater Yellowstone area. The feds promised and stated that the Wolf would not leave the greater Yellowstone area due to the wonderful habitat and abundant food supply. Well they shot a collared Yellowstone Wolf in Western Kansas this spring. We also have two packs in the Windriver Mountains above Lander. The Wildlife populations are down, The National Elk Refuge stated that the Elk Numbers were down in the winter of 2003/2004 by 15%. The Wolf is a protected species in Wyoming as is the Grizzly Bear. Dave

[calamaridog]

LOL. I remember when they introduced them and one pack immediately left Yellowstone for the Beartooth area. You can't control where they go as long as there is a greenbelt, they can move on if they want. I would say that it has been a success from the standpoint that the wolves are thriving, the ranchers are being compensated for the occasional livestock loss, etc.

In an area as large as Yellowstone/Teton/Beartooths I can see that there is room for these predators. I'm not sure how I feel about your area because I'm not sure if it has the carrying capacity for Grizzly's, without undo burden being placed upon residents.

And while I care about Wyoming, I don't live there (yet) and will not try to tell you all how to run your show



I didn't know this. How long have they been there, where did they come from, and what sort of impact have they had on the community?



We can't hunt mountain lions here in Kalifornia. Our deer population is down so low that I don't even try to hunt deer anymore. The number one game animal in California is Wild Pig. Funniest thing about pigs and lions. The lions won't eat the pigs.

Seriously. Mountain Lions don't eat wild pigs. But I do

I miss Wyoming and haven't been there for about 7 years. Most of the family has died or moved on, I grew up and got a job and family, and I just haven't made it back. I'm hoping to come out with my brother in May 2005 and do some hiking.

[slpbear]

Stop by and see us while in Wyoming, The Windrivers are the best for Hiking and Climbing. Check out, www.sleepingbearrvpark.com Dave

[slpbear]

http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/wildlife/igb...b_internet.htm The above link is the US Forest Service link about the Griz. issue. The 3 local Districts approve of plan #2 but the decession will be made in Washington. The Forest Service was very Secretive about the public comment period and the only comments that were received were from Enviromantal Groups for the most part. DAve