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Selkirk/Cabinet-Yaak Subcommittee Meeting 05/28/08
Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee
By Joe Madison and Tim Layser
I&E Task Group Report – Mike Herrin
- Public Outreach for Priest Lake was the only item funded this year.
- Sent out draft food storage order for review, but did not receive any responses.
- The draft food storage order mimics the larger IBGC one, except we would not be allowing food in tents.
- Comment made that most of the bear-human conflicts occur in the WUI and not out in the general forest.
- Kootenai National Forest – ROD for Rock Creek Mine stipulates mandatory food storage in 3 or 4 BMUs as soon as the project starts and within 5 years a food storage order is required for the entire recovery area on KNF.
- Lolo National Forest is phasing a food storage order in across the forest, but it is already mandatory in Seeley Lake.
- Colville National Forest has a mandatory food storage order in Sullivan Lake
- Idaho Panhandle National Forests is currently implementing a voluntary food storage order across the forest.
- Boundary County Commissioner expressed concerns about mandatory food storage order across IPNF.
- Fish and Wildlife Service would like an implementation schedule drafted so they can know that the agencies are moving forward with implementing food storage orders across the recovery zone.
Reports from the Researchers
- Bears have been slower emerging from the dens because of the late winter.
- Spring black bear harvest numbers have been way down this year in northwest Montana.
Wayne Kasworm
Not aware of any grizzly bear problems on public land, but he would guess that part of the reason is because there are not a lot of grizzly bears out there yet. He would like to see the food and garbage storage issues worked out before the grizzly bear population increases, which increases the potential for conflicts.
Chris Servheen
We have a pretty good population estimation for the Cabinet-Yaak based on Wayne Kasworms work. Currently there are 30 – 40 grizzly bears and the goal is 100.
Powerpoint on mortality/reproduction
Trend analysis suggests that the Cabinet-Yaak grizzly bear population has declined because of mortality.
Conflict Management – Kim Annis
- No conflicts yet this year.
- The collar placed on the Noxon bear is no longer operational.
- Some black bear, but no grizzly bear activity at dump sites.
- Tried to hit the typical lodging places for out of state hunters to educate individuals on bears before they went out hunting.
- She has been giving training talks at the mines.
- Gives presentations at local libraries.
- Hoping to create a grizzly bear education trailer.
- Working on the IGBC Subcommittee website.
- Loans out Unbearable Cans and will cost share purchasing one for those that can not afford it.
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