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 The Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) encompasses about 9,600 square miles of northwestern Montana, and includes Glacier National Park, parts of the Flathead and Blackfeet Indian Reservations, parts of 5 national forests (Flathead, Helena, Kootenai, Lewis and Clark and Lolo), Bureau of Land Management lands, and a significant amount of state and private lands. Also within this region are 4 wilderness areas (Bob Marshall, Mission Mountains, Great bear and Scapegoat), one wildnerness study area (Deep Creek north), and one scenic area (Ten Lakes).
 The NCDE is believed to have the largest population of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states. In 2004, fieldwork was completed that provided managers with baseline estimates of both abundance and distribution of grizzly bears in the NCDE. Through the use of genetic analysis on collected hair samples, researchers were able to determine that an estimated 765 grizzly bears make their home in the Northern Continental Divide. Of those 765, researchers estimate 470 bears are females. Female bears were also found throughout the entire study area, indicating a good reproductive potential for the species. Analysis of hair samples also allowed researchers to determine genetic health of the grizzly bear population. Although overall genetic variation indicate a healthy population, it is only one part of the puzzle that managers need for the recovery of grizzlies in the NCDE to be successful. More information on the Northern Divide Grizzly Bear Project can be found on the USGS website http://www.nrmsc.usgs.gov/research/NCDEbeardna.htm.
I nformation, on both population size and trend, is needed to improve knowledge of grizzly bear ecology and to judge the status of the grizzly population in the NCDE. Therefore, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, in cooperation with many other agencies, initiated a program to monitor the population trend of grizzly bears in the NCDE. The purpose of this long-term program is to monitor the vital population parameters of grizzly bears by assessing the survival and reproductive rates, as well as trend.  More information on NCDE Grizzly Bear Population Monitoring can be found on the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks website http://fwp.mt.gov/wildthings/tande/monitoring.html
The NCDE subcommittee meets biannually to coordinate grizzly bear recovery efforts throughout the ecosystem. Agencies include Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Park Service, USDA Forest Service, USDA APHIS-Wildlife Services, US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Land Management, Blackfeet Tribe, and Confederate Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
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