More than a dozen ag groups have signed onto a letter opposing grizzly bear introduction in the North Cascades of Washington.
“With all the progress being made species-wide and nationwide, and the increasing pressure from Congress to delist the grizzly bear altogether, establishing another pocket of genetically indistinct bears will only jeopardize future science-based efforts to delist,” the letter read.
The groups contend that establishing a nonessential experimental population of bears in the ecosystem has the potential to devastate hundreds of livestock producers. “Local farmers and ranchers, as well as elected leaders from Washington state, have objected to this proposal for years,” the letter concluded.
“We urge the Service to listen to these local voices and withdraw the proposal.”
The letter was signed by the Public Lands Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, American Farm Bureau Federation and a dozen state cattlemen’s associations and farm bureau groups.
