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NCDE Meeting
FWP- Kalispell
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Day One – October 3, 2007
Many Kudos to the USFS / Cathy Barbouletos for securing funding to keep the Trend Monitoring up and running for the next 5 years!!!
Chris Servheen shares with the group that Washington did get the message regarding funding shortfalls. The Missoula County Commission sent a letter to the delegation. Max Baucus followed up with another letter.
Ken McDonald indicated that at the Tri-State Meeting there is a proposal being made to establish a trust fund to fund bears and wolves in the three states. At this point, don’t know just where this is going, but it has the potential to get pretty big.
Stephanie Dubois planted the seed that the Centennial Challenge Projects may be the opportunity for dollar-for-dollar matches through some of these projects.
Dan Carney asks what is the future funding for the NCDE? Rick Mace answers that it costs approximately $138K per year to continue the fieldwork…without any frills.
Dan Carney also asks whether the data currently being collected is going to be helpful in delisting the grizzly bear? Rick Mace answers that size and trend is extremely important information however, Chris Servheen will cover what else is needed (like Yellowstone). Currently the NCDE is approximately $300K - $400K short per year in comparison to what took place in Yellowstone.
Chris Servheen reviews the NCDE Human-Caused Mortality Issues and the distribution of 18 mortalities this year in the NCDE.
- Management Removal / NCDE
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Yellowstone management removal was 8 compared to the 1 that took place in the NCDE.
Distribution of mortalities has been stable throughout the year.
Audience member indicated that the media only heard about 9 mortalities. Every mortality or bear movement should be released to the media. Maybe more private citizens would start realizing the necessity of picking up fruit, garbage, etc.
Rick Mace indicates that bear activity is released to relevant newspaper, i.e., Great Falls, Missoula, etc. Not every item is reported to the Daily Interlake if it isn’t in correct geographic location. All news releases do get released to the A/P.
Ellen Davis / IGBC asks to get added to the News Release Distribution List so that she can post news to the IGBC website in a timely fashion. Martha will forward this request to John Fraley / Communication Education.
Minette Glaser/Defender’s Partnership Project shares that overall the prosecutions of illegal takings have not been very successful. Minette’s question to the group is “Can Federal/State/NGO’s pull together to post award for any information leading to arrest and prosecution?”
Kate Kendall / DNA Based Density Estimate for Greater GNP area and spoke of the HT and RT capture probabilities. From 1998 to 2000 used two concurrent sampling methods. There were 33% of bears in RT sample that had 0 capture probability. Found that joint data sets (HTRT) are better able to handle high heterogeneity and low capture probabilities. In GNP, there are approximately 3 grizzlies per 100 km. Conclusions are that there is a higher density of grizzlies in GNP than in surrounding areas; comparisons must be made cautiously as RT sampling increased individuality by 25%; there is a need for cross boundary capture.
Amy Macleod / NCDE Grizzly Bear Database Project is a multi-agency project. There wasn’t a cohesive system for data collection or management. Earlier efforts were unsuccessful due to a lack of funding. The USGS had collected information from multiple agencies in various formats. There are many different uses for this database as the data and sample collection are now consistent across ecosystems and agencies.
A secure location, an administrator with database skills that remains constant during the field season, genotyping of new bears and MOU’s need to be in place in order to maintain the database project. Also need to work with BC and Alberta to maintain seamless data across the borders. Wouldn’t it also make sense to incorporate the CYE and Selkirk’s information into this database? The estimated cost to maintain database during the field season would be $15 - $25K for a part-time administrator. Yellowstone has this type of database and the NCDE needs it as well if we ever hope to delist grizzlies.
Subject(s) for future NCDE meeting: A sub-committee needs to develop a strategy to continue to maintain the database (fund administrator and fund continuance of genotyping). Cathy Barbouletos suggests the need to charter a sub-committee to perform analysis of funded and unfunded mandates and find funding strategy. Need to identify a person from each agency to work on this sub-committee. Also, Kathy Ake’s NCDE workload needs some direction. Currently she has 93 days total devoted to the NCDE, her program of work, agreements and budget need to be decided. Please be ready to discuss all at next NCDE meeting. (See discussion on this topic below)
NCDE Meeting – Day 2 - October 4, 2007
Jim Satterfield – IGBC meeting coming up. Add to agenda.
Chris Servheen – DPS process (Distinct Population Segment) published after grizzlies were listed.
Five recovery ecosystems:
- North Cascades
- Selkirks/Cabinet Yaak
- Northern Continental Divide
- Bitterroot
- Yellowstone
Bears are in Salish Mountains. Grizzlies can be found outside recovery zones. Bear numbers are increasing and encounter areas expanding.
Stage 1: IGBC members have been nominated. First meeting will be after first of year. Will try to apply DPS policy to these areas (see DPS flow chart). Will decide which areas qualify for DPS application. Will go out for public review & comment.
Stage 2: Five-factor analysis. Each DPS unit should be reviewed every five years. Will know status of each unit. Decision will be made on each unit based on 5-factor analysis - threatened, endangered or “shouldn’t be listed at all.” Will be completed end of 2008. Some units may be combined (of the five listed above).
Step 1. DPS analysis
Step 2. Five-factor analysis.
Step 3. Revise recovery plan – may be new units or combined units.
Question: Identify unit that shouldn’t be listed? Proposed rule to change status published in Federal Register.
Question: Will combining areas come under Step 1? Yes
Relatives of bears relocated – merging genetically discussed.
Comment: What we see now is different than the ‘80s.
Comment: Population used to be connected; no longer.
Comment: I wouldn’t have genetic distinctness override recovery.
Question: Will publish in Federal Registry regardless of need to change status? CB – Will still have to publish why no change of status.
FWS will publish in Federal Registry & seek public comment regarding decision to change status of any unit.
Question: How might decision on mitigation of Yellowstone affect this? It’s different.
Chris Servheen: Showed map of bear traveling in 60-mile radius. Selkirk bear traveled 140 miles. Bears, especially males, move great distances. Will be factored into DPS units. This information will be used to evaluate DPS.
Idaho Fish & Game putting out map to hunters: Be prepared to see grizzly & black bears.
Regarding Yellowstone delisting, two lawsuits presently pending.
Jane Engebretson – Swan Ecosystem Center (SEC)/Swan Management Update (partnership – Swan Valley with major landowners)
Have had bear mortality problems. Forest Service, DNRC, Plum Creek, & local group (SEC) involved. Fall 2004 escalating bear problems.
Businesses looking into bear proof containers. Different groups involved. During winter, expanding Seeley Lake Bear Aware Program. Started compliance checks.
By 2006, monitoring of grizzly results. Biggest influence: illegal/human-caused mortalities. Swan has a lot of potential for bear problems. Our recommendation: Plum Creek, DNRC & Forest Service – help with sanitation measures.
In 2006 had 3-month loon/bear ranger position to augment Tim Manley. In 2007 had position for 6 months. Mark Ruby held position. Worked toward education and food storage compliance. By 2007, position really clicked. In partnership with Forest Service, money funneled into SEC for position. Position involved: Bear Aware Program; newsletter; checked campground compliance; contacted enforcement; contacted homeowners, schools, door-door education; ranchers. Good to have someone there.
Mondays, dumpsters get emptied. Lids are left up. Bear ranger checks, closes, reminds. The agreement provides salary for almost 9 months. Hope to keep position through hunting season.
Forest Service and DNRC have loaner bear-proof containers until owners can purchase for themselves.
Question: Are bear rangers working for SEC? They are contract employees working for SEC. 80%. Person drives Forest Service vehicle. No FS uniform; not FS employee. Can wear different “hats.”
Chris Servheen – Recognized Chuck B for front-page article in Lewistown/Idaho paper.
Grizzly Specialists Updates:
Tim Manley – Trend-Monitoring Program, Kate Kendall’s DNA, Human Conflict Management, Cabinet Mountains Augmentation Program.
Since 1993 – average of 15 captures per year. 2004 had high of 43. Garbage is huge issue, also fruit trees. Leave fruit for deer/small animals, but call when bears arrive. Have Unbearable Bins loaners.
Do successful on-site releases. Derek & Heather Reich are great help; assist with Trend Monitoring
Showed Power Point presentation of cabin break-ins by bears, use of Argos collars to track bears, and showed GPS locations of bears relating to the Cabinet Mountains Augmentation, 2005.
Using cameras a lot to reduce nontarget capture on augmentation bears. Have reduced number of bears we’ve had to handle. Can selectively set to minimize captures. Derek & Heather Reich are funded by FWP Foundation & Defenders of Wildlife.
Dan Carney – 10 depredations on Reservation; 2 buildings broken into; 6 captures of 5 male individuals; 2 mortalities (rancher killed one defending calf; cub killed by car); 1 food storage violation.
Mike Madel – Several bears feeding on buffalo berries; bear numbers actively spiked in September. Sixteen grizzly conflicts, including 8 livestock. Defenders of Wildlife have reimbursed livestock owners full market value.
Dealing with attractants rather than trapping. Bears moving outside of recovery line searching for food. Only had 12 trap nights; did a lot of preventative work. Working with Defenders of Wildlife and Wildlife Services.
Movable fencing for sheep operation paid for by Defenders of Wildlife, Wildlife Services, and FWP. Protects sheep at night. Have 25 fences up protecting beehives and 25 bear-proof bins. Have helped a lot.
Have been dealing with more mortalities east of the Divide. Livestock killed by trains; bears killed by trains while feeding on livestock.
Jamie Jonkel – Conflicts near Lincoln; sheep depredation; no captures. Garbage-related in Seeley. Ovando/Helmsville – quiet. Nice community-based management. Giving fence material to fence fruit. Lincoln area – setting up phone tree (neighborhood cluster). Individual male breaking in, Lincoln area. Trap set in Lincoln. Calls from hunters – bear encounters. Mortalities – one male; mistaken identity.
New southern bear activities. Lots of preventative management going on; electric fence program; checkout program. Neighborhood cluster group is working well. More work in Lower Clark Fork – bear outreach; Bear Aware Program. Seeing southern push from Blackfoot area. Grant Creek – established use of network already in place.
Jim Satterfield – Funding/Staffing request. Subcommittee: Ken, Chris, Rick, Kathy, Kate, and Steve.
Cathy Barbouletos – Is manager rep.
Jim Satterfield (not sure if this is Jim S’s) – Need timetable. Put together funding/staff request for IGBC.
Cathy Barbouletos – First, what are elements we need to monitor?
Jim Williams – Staff requests need to survive legislative process.
Jim Satterfield –for IGBC Missoula meeting in spring.
IGBC is June 19-20, Seeley Lake, Rich Ranch
Chris Servheen – Discussed “Essential monitoring & research costs leading to recovery & delisting the NCDE.” Displayed table as follows:
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2007
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2008
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Population Estimate
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$256,000*
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Completed in 2007
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Telemetry Monitoring
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$103,000**
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$303,000**
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Key Foods
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$ 80,000**
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$ 80,000**
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Mortality Monitoring
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$ 31,000**
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$ 31,000**
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Population Monitoring
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$215,500
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$215,500
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Database Management
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$ 44,000
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$ 44,000**
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$673,500
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$729,500
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MFWP 2007 $215,500
USGS 2007 $ 300,000
**Unfunded
*Complete in 2007
Chris Servheen – Spend day talking about things we know & need to develop.
Group thought that it would help to have one authoritative document for NCDE Trend Monitoring & other components.
Chris Servheen – Will refine.
Jim Satterfield & Jim Williams – Presentation in December at IGBC.
Jim Satterfield – December 1 deadline. Subcommittee members Steve, Ken, Rick, Chris, Kate
Kate Kendall – What are we supposed to do?
Chris Servheen – Produce – identify cost to monitor to achieve recovery in this system. Best knowledge we have today.
Kate Kendall – Need more technological experts.
Kate Kendall – Shouldn’t limit committee to agency experts.
Rick Mace – Can’t do budget unless things are nailed down.
Cathy Barbouletos – We want to see a detailed monitoring plan.
Cathy Barbouletos – Develop monitoring plan with key elements.
Group: Why do we need to monitor key foods?
Discussion of database management. Want to store & sort that data.
Kate Kendall – Need funding past 2008.
Ken McDonald – should we have a 10-year plan? Starting point.
Rick Mace – There are different visions on speed necessary for programs. Has to be bio-political discussion on going. I don’t think there is a common vision right now.
Alan Rowley – let’s build a proposal & make recommendation.
Sterling Miller – Two components: what needs to be done and administrative structure for accomplishing these tasks.
Kate Kendall – This study team – what is it going to look like? For Yellowstone, USGS head of study team. Is FWP head for this?
Jim Satterfield – Are we comfortable with this – to sort it out and get together?
Kate Kendall – Would like to (1) nominate Sterling as part of group – to head it; (2) some parts more straightforward than others. Yellowstone had funding. Have no food information on south half of system. Big job to get this done. Assigning people to work this out – big job.
Jim Satterfield – Need to sit down & plan out task. Come up with better charter. Don’t need to write it today.
Rick Mace – Problem is – who is decision-maker. Where does the buck stop?
Kate Kendall – Who will decide organization?
Group Answer: The Subcommittee with Jack Potter as leader.
Kate Kendall – USGS not represented in subcommittee. Please add Jeff Kirshner.
Chris Servheen – Long-term plan of conservation strategy. We’re not in position to develop management plan. If you want conservation study for summer meeting, numbers in chart can be refined, but can’t say how to monitor foods & the cost.
Jim Satterfield – Maybe back off & look at smaller charge – narrow down what we need to do.
Chris Servheen – After 2008 DPS is done, then can revise & let process proceed.
Jim Satterfield – Maybe need 2-4-year plan.
Cathy Barbouletos – From money standpoint, how will money be spent? Had roughed structure. We’re in shaky spot with foods. Some can go on back burner. Need rough estimate of how $$ will be spent.
Rick Mace – How did Yellowstone get off the ground?
Cathy Barbouletos – Need start point. If we get out of soft $$ into hard $$, need to give IGBC more meat on the bones.
Jim Satterfield – Is the NCDE subcommittee comfortable with getting together to start this?
Jim Williams – Is Sterling willing to be on committee?
Great, FWP will set up first meeting. Martha will work out details.
Chuck Bartlebaugh –MT Assoc. of Taxidermists willing to donate mounts. Need hides skinned properly, ASAP. $30,000 gift. When animal dies, turn it into something worthwhile. Raised $15M, never used! No freezer burn & no rot please!
Meeting adjourned.
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