Discussions around wildlife rarely seem to follow facts and science. The latest wildlife species discussion to garner attention and reach national headlines has been the proposed grizzly bear hunt in Wyoming and Idaho. However, U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen placed a temporary block on the hunt, which was scheduled to begin Sept. 1. This served as a blow to those who thoughtfully worked on a Grizzly Bear Management Plan.
In June 2017 the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bear population was removed from Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection. The success of the grizzly bear recovery has been lauded by wildlife advocates and environmental groups as a success story. However, with only 1 percent of listed species ever being delisted, it is hard for me to call anything around this Act a success.
Being listed seems to have a lingering effect on the species. In fact, Judge Christensen wrote, “because once a member of an endangered species has been injured, the task of preserving that species becomes all the more difficult.” So, despite experts who have stated that the bears have exceeded their recovery criteria since 2004 and that the bear population needs to be managed, some extreme groups believe that this species still needs protection under the ESA.
Beyond the fact many opponents to the grizzly bear hunt still seem to think of them in terms of their prior ESA designation, another challenge is that these animals have had what I like to call the “Disney Effect” in public perception. What I mean by the “Disney Effect” is that most of the public’s interaction with these species has come through a cartoon portrayal of the animal, giving them human-like attributes. Consequently, when the idea of a hunt hits the media, it results in a huge backlash to those who have dealt with the species and/or live with them on a daily basis. In past discussions I have had with Wyoming lawmakers, they relayed receiving hate mail and threats regarding their support to the proposed hunting season, noting that a vast majority of these letters and calls came from out-of-state individuals.
Let’s look at some of the facts around the hunt. There would have been a maximum take of 24 bears; a total of 10 boars and two sows out of the Demographic Monitoring Areas (DMA) 1-6 and another 12 bears out of the DMA Hunting Area 7. These areas and the harvest would be very restrictive with applicants applying to be on a list, being assigned a number, then being called as their turn became available. It was done this way so there would not be more hunters actively hunting than the number of females still available could support.
At the beginning of the season, two hunters would be allowed to hunt. If both of those hunters bagged sows, the season would be over and no more hunts would be allowed. If both hunters took boars, the next two on the list would be allowed to hunt, and this would continue until either the maximum limit is reached or the two-sow limit is reached. In essence, it is very unlikely that 24 bears would be taken in a given year.
Grizzly bears have been a topic of concern in Montana for years. And every year it seems like grizzlies are spotted further and further away from historic areas. Livestock casualties from these predators is also on the rise and hard to combat. Just last week I received pictures of a confirmed grizzly kill of a bred heifer. The bear was able to make the kill with one well-placed blow to the nose of the heifer. The amount of power behind these animals is amazing and I hope I never encounter one. This does bring up safety concerns for farmers and ranchers working in these areas who may meet these predators. I cannot think of many scenarios which would be scarier than being chased by a grizzly.
I was very disappointed to hear about the decision to block what would have been the first grizzly bear hunt in Wyoming and Idaho in 40 years. It is also disheartening that a well thought out conservation plan by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commissioners, that was vetted through experts and stakeholders alike, was hijacked by a judge who was sympathetic to the broken ESA and extreme environmental groups.
I hope that common sense will prevail and that the hunt can go forward as intended and that these discussions are met with facts and science going forward. — DEVIN MURNIN
