Grizzly Decision

Sierra Club Submits 25,000 Comments Opposing Grizzly Delistment

By Tad Sooter, 3-16-06

	An attentive bear mascot watches researcher Chuck Jonkel explain the dangers of grizzly de-listment.

The Sierra Club announced Thursday the submission of 25,000 public comments opposing the federal government's plan to take Yellowstone grizzlies off of the Endangered Species list in a press conference at the University of Montana. The Sierra Club’s grizzly project manager Heidi Godwin was joined by bear researchers Chuck Jonkel and Margot Higgins, as well as a furry bear mascot, to explain why it is too early to delist the bears.

The speakers said that while the rise of the Yellowstone grizzly population is promising, more needs to be done to expand habitat and sustain the species.

“Today it’s undeniable that grizzly numbers have increased," Godwin said. "And if we were here about an increase in numbers, we would all be celebrating, but we’re not."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service first proposed delisting Yellowstone grizzlies in July of 2005, citing and estimated population of 400 to 600 bears as evidence of a successful recovery in Yellowstone National Park.

But the bear population will not last unless habitat is improved said Chuck Jonkel, president of the Great Bear Foundation in Missoula and a bear researcher with over 40 years of experience.

“Habitat is still going down in area and in quality," He said. “The population curve must follow the habitat curve ... I will never be happy with delistment until that curve goes up."

Jonkel said creating habitat corridors between bear populations would be one way of adding useful habitat.

Jonkel’s other concern is that funding for grizzly conservation will dry up once the buzz from the issue dies down. It would be best to leave the bears under on the endangered list where they will be protected by federal funds, he said. The Sierra Club estimates that managing the delisted bears will cost the Forest Service, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming $3.4 million annually.

“There will be a flash in the pan, politicians will give speeches, but we’ll be relisting them again in 10 years, I guarantee you that," Jonkel said.

Godwin said the comments gathered by the Sierra Club should push the total number of comments on the proposal to over 150,000. The comment period ends Monday, March 20.

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