Biologists agree: Census could be better

It was a meeting of the most-known bear biologists in Northwest Montana, and the message was this: Grizzlies are making a comeback in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem, but it could be better.

For 90 minutes last week, Lincoln County commissioners were updated on the grizzlies in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem.  A recent study reveals between 45 and 49 grizzly bears in the ecosystem, which is one of six in the lower-48 states.

Some of those bears are there by an augmentation program. Those grizzlies that have stayed are leading to minimal increases in the grizzly population in the ecosystem.

On Wednesday, biologists Chris Servheen, Ph.D., with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Wayne Kasworm, also with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Jim Williams and Kim Annis of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks advised commissioners of the progress in managing grizzlies in the ecosystem.

Kasworm narrated a PowerPoint presentation that explained the gradual increase of grizzlies in the area. Kasworm provided graphics beginning in 1980 that showed 52 grizzly deaths in the area during those 34 years as a result of known interaction with humans.

“That’s a lot of bears,” Commissioner Mike Cole said.

Kasworm provided graphics that show correlation between the lean huckleberry production years from 1999 to 2005, for example, in which 22 grizzlies were killed in known contacts with humans.

“That’s known human contact,” Kasworm emphasized. “We don’t know about others.”

Annis provided her report that indicates during those lean huckleberry-producing years, bears seek other food sources, often coming into contact with humans in their quest for food.

“There is a high risk of grizzly bear mortalities related to habituation (where a bear loses its natural caution around humans), human-food conditioning and negative encounters with humans,” Annis writes. “The risk is especially high in residential, developed areas and public waste-transfer stations. Habituated bears are at high risk of illegal killing because of their increased exposure to people.”

While these biologists realize there will be mortalities through human contact and other boar-on-cub attacks, Kasworm analyzed what slight growth currently exists if just the human element of mortality could be eliminated, a question brought by Cole.

“There’s your answer, Mike,” Kasworm said.

Kasworm showed a graphic by trimming the human-caused Cabinet-Yaak mortaility rate by half would provide for a 3 percent annual growth rate, and the population would double in size in 24 years.

“The thing is: Every grizzly mortality is devastating to the population,” Kasworm said.

Kasworm took the analysis one step further and stated that if all human-caused mortalities in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem could be eliminated, the population would grow at a 7.3 percent rate and the population would double in 10 years.

That is why Annis’ education program is so crucial to the survivability, she writes in her report.

“Perhaps the greatest success toward recovery efforts for the grizzly bear in the state of Montana has been the development of bear management specialist positions by (Fish, Wildlife & Parks),” she writes. “The (Fish, Wildlife & Parks) specialists have proved successful at fostering public awareness, tolerance and support of grizzly bear management and conservation.”

Presiding Commissioner Tony Berget said stipulations to protect the grizzly population has limited economic growth in Lincoln County.

“It is stifling,” Berget said. “All we’ve wanted is a seat at the table in these discussions, and we have that now. The econonic impact of the grizzly and (bull trout) has cost this county millions in logging.”

Beget said he was encouraged by discussion that the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem could be part of the larger North Continental Divide Ecosystem.

“I think these areas are all related,” Berget said. “Here, British Columbia and others.”

Berget said he believes there are even more grizzlies out there than the 45 to 49 estimated by the recent DNA study.

“We got so much information from the DNA study. There were people out there saying there were 20 bears out there. We know there are almost 50 and probably more. That has helped in lawsuits when people say we’re hurting the grizzlies.”

Berget said education can help improve population by informing the public.

Biologists contend the ecosystem ideally should contain 100 grizzlies.

Annis offers education programs and assistance to residents who have frequent bears encounters, whether they be grizzly or black bears.

Her contact information is 293-4161, extension 207.