OUTDOORS: Worthwhile Grizzly Bear meeting set for Havre

I know, it's been nearly a century since anyone last saw a grizzly bear anywhere near Havre, times change, as they say, and that doesn't mean grizzly bears finding their way into the Milk River Valley will never happen again.

In fact, it probably will happen, and much sooner than many think.

So, given that it's not out of the realm of possibility that we could see a grizzly or two hanging around Havre and the Hi-Line, this summer, or at least in the not so distant future, it's no surprise that, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is holding a grizzly bear awareness meeting in Havre later this month.

FWP is hosting a public meeting regarding prairie grizzly bear awareness, including how to minimize conflict, April 25 in Havre. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Hensler Auditorium in the Applied Technology Center on the Montana State University-Northern campus. The event is open to the public, and all ages are welcome.

Montana is home, in whole or in part, to four grizzly bear recovery zones designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, or GYE; the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, or NCDE; the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem; and the Bitterroot Ecosystem. While grizzly bear numbers have surpassed recovery objectives in the GYE and NCDE, they have yet to reach recovery levels in the Cabinet-Yaak and Bitterroot.

Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are officially under the jurisdiction of the federal FWS, but much of the day-to-day management of bears in Montana is done by state FWP in partnership and with oversight of the FWS. The FWS delisted the GYE grizzly bear population under the Endangered Species Act in 2017, but a federal court decision last fall relisted the population. This delayed the delisting process for the NCDE and resulted in an appeal of the GYE decision by the state of Montana and others.

Grizzly bear populations continue to expand, in some cases into areas they have not occupied for decades. Management challenges and conflicts have increased. FWP, along with partner agencies such as U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services and FWS, work together to respond to conflicts as they occur. However, the situation has become increasingly complex as bears move into areas of Montana outside of existing recovery zones, such as the Big Hole Valley, Little Belt Mountains and the plains east of the Rocky Mountain Front.

At this public meeting, FWP bear management specialist Wesley Sarmento will present a background on grizzly bears in Montana, how the department manages grizzly bear conflict and the challenges of grizzly expansion on the prairies east of the Rocky Mountain Front.

In addition, Sarmento will explain what to do during a bear encounter, how to use bear spray, how to protect harvested game meat, how to safely deter a bear using non-lethal tools, and how to secure attractants and prevent a bear from being drawn into agricultural operations and residences.

FWP encourages landowners, hunters and any outdoor recreationists to attend. FWP ensures that its meetings are fully accessible to people with disabilities. To request special accommodations for this meeting, or if there are any questions, people can contact 228-3700.

Recently, Gov. Steve Bullock announced that he will establish a Grizzly Bear Advisory Council to help initiate a statewide discussion on grizzly bear management, conservation and recovery. The council will be selected through an application process that ends April 12.

Anyone interested in this opportunity can go to the http://www.fwp.gov webpage to learn more and apply.