Grizzly Bear Management Plan for Western Montana
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GRIZZLY BEAR MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR WESTERN MONTANA DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT 2006‐2016 With input from the Montana Grizzly Bear Working Groups and other interested parties June 2006 GRIZZLY BEAR MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR WESTERN MONTANA DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT 2006‐2016 Prepared by: Arnold R. Dood, Shirley J. Atkinson and Vanna J. Boccadori Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks 1400 S 19th Ave, Bozeman, Montana With input from the Montana Grizzly Bear Working Groups and other interested parties June 2006 For further information, please contact: Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks P. O. Box 200701 Helena, MT 596200‐0701 (406) 444‐3186 Suggested Citation: Dood, A. R., Atkinson, S. J. and V. J. Boccadori (2006) Grizzly Bear Management Plan for Western Montana: draft programmatic environmental impact statement 2006‐2016. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Helena, Montana. 143 pp. Front Cover: Grizzly bear (Ursus arctos). Sketch drawn by Clint E. Chapman. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many people participated in the development of this plan. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) would like to express gratitude to all those who committed their time and energy to ensure our program was adequate to meet the needs of bears and the people who live with them. FWP would like to recognize the following individuals who assisted in the document process and preparation: Margaret Morelli, Joan Buhl, Julie VanWinkle, and Tom Palmer. Special recognition is due to the following individuals and organizations for their assistance through participation in our workshops. By recognizing their participation, we are by no means implying that they support the plan in part or in its entirety. Their openness and willingness to contribute have, however, made this a better plan. These meetings were productive because of the skill of our facilitator, Virginia Tribe, and we thank her as well. Individuals Wendy Adams Pete Howard Monty Sullins Steve Anderson David Hulslander Bob Summerfield Mike Bader David Hurtt Bernie A. Swift John & Nina Baucus Minette Johnson Russell Swindall Jay Bodner Charles Jonkel Tim Tew Louie Bouma Jerry Kaiser John Vore Joseph Brady Craig Kendall Joe Waldner Arlie Burk Peter J Klinesoser Bob Wiesner Larry Campbell David Kleinsasser Jr. Louisa Willcox Linda Cardenas David Kleinsasser Sr. Noel Williams Theresa Conner Jonathan Langhor Bill Wilson Aubyn Curtiss Paul A. Leimback Seth Wilson George A. Curtis Cliff and Sandra Linster Peter Wurz Kim Davitt Elizabeth Maclay Lane Yeager Larry & Anne Dellwo Melody Martinsen Frank Duval Paul McKenzie Organizations Jeff Forte Bill Meadows American Wildlands Dave Gaillard Jim Mershon Montana Stockgrowers Megan Gill Sterling Miller Montana Wilderness Association Kraig Glaser Arlene Montgomery Natural Resources Defense Council Heidi Godwin Brian Peck Yaak Valley Forest Council Mark Good Bill Peebles Plum Creek Timber John Grove John Peebles Harvey Hackett Mark Ratledge Agencies Keith Hammer Staff of Congressman Denny Rehberg Bureau of Land Management Larry Handegard Allen Rowley Bureau of Indian Affairs Rebecca Harrison Tim Rubbert Flathead National Forest Cesar Hernandez Chris Servheen Montana Department of Agriculture Ben Hofer Jerry C. Shively US Fish and Wildlife Service Jay Hofer Jim Shockley US Forest Service Joe Hofer Gayle Sitter USGS Biological Resources Division Ben Hoge Charles W. Spoon Blackfeet Tribe Mike Hoggan Henning Stabins Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Additional educational materials were graciously provided by Chuck Bartelbaugh and the Center for Wildlife Information and Defenders of Wildlife. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………………………………………………….. vi LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………………………………………………………… vii LIST OF APPENDICES……………………………………………………………………………… vii 1. INTRODUCTION...………………………………………………………...….………………….. 1 Vision Statement …………………………………………………………………………………. 1 Background to State Plan………………………………………………………………………… 1 Process for Plan Development…………………………………………………………………... 2 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Goals for the Grizzly Bear…………………….….....…... 2 Purpose and Need…………………………………………………………………….…….……. 3 History of Bears and Bear Biology in Western Montana…………..……………….......…….. 5 Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission Policy……………………………...……….. 7 2. DESCRIPTION OF GRIZZLY BEAR MANAGEMENT AREA FOR WESTERN MONTANA …………………………………………………………………………………...…... 8 General Description………………………………………………………………………………. 8 Size and Human Population……………………………………………………………….……. 10 Land Ownership………………………………………………………………………………….. 11 Special Management Areas……………..………………………………………………..….. 12 Agricultural Industry………………………………………………………………………..…… 12 Mineral Industry………………...…...……………………………………………………….…... 14 Timber Industry………………………………………………………………………………….. 14 Recreational Opportunities……………………………………………………………………… 15 3. SUMMARY OF GRIZZLY BEAR BIOLOGY……………...………………………………..…... 16 Physical Characteristics ………………………...……………………………………………….. 16 Social Organization and Behavior……………………………………………………….……… 16 Habitat Requirements ……….……………………………………………………………….….. 17 Food……………………………………...……………………………………………….……. 18 Cover…………………………………...……………………………………………………… 18 Denning………………………………...……………………………………………………… 19 Home Range…………………………...……………………………………………...………. 19 Natality…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20 Natural Mortality…………………………………………………………………………………. 21 Human‐Caused Mortality………………………...……………………………………………... 21 Density…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 24 Status in the NCDE………………………………….……………………………………………. 24 Status in the CYE…………………………………….…………………………………………… 26 4. ISSUES AND ALTERNATIVES IDENTIFIED AND CONSIDERED ………………….……. 29 A. CONFLICT MANAGEMENT………………………………………………………………... 30 Human Safety……………………………………………………………………………………... 31 Strategies to minimize human‐grizzly conflict………………….……………………... 32 Inform and Educate…………….……………….…………….……………..……….. 32 Attractant Food Storage Rules and Regulations…...…..……….…………………. 33 iv TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT.) Page Bear Repellents and Deterrents……..…….…………….…………………………... 34 Aversive Conditioning…….…………...………………….…………………………. 34 Management Control………………...…………………….………………….……... 34 Livestock Conflict...………………………………..……………………………………………... 35 Property Damage…………………………………………………………….…………..……….. 37 Conflict Management Guidelines…………………………….…………………………………. 38 Response Actions…………………………………….……..………………………………... 38 Grizzly Bear‐Human Interaction Risk Management Protocols…….….…….…….……. 39 Rapid Response Protocols………………………………………………..…………………. 39 Criteria for Conflict Grizzly Bear Determination and Control…………..……………… 40 Disposition Criteria for Bears Removed in Management Actions……..….……..……... 41 Conflict Monitoring Protocol……………………….………………..……………………... 41 Alternatives Considered………………………………………………………………………… 41 B. HABITAT MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT………………………………………... 42 Habitat Security and Motorized Access………………………………………………………... 43 Food Sources………………………………………………………………………………………. 44 Private Land Development……………………………………………………………………… 45 Trails……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 45 Habitat Monitoring Guidelines…………………………………………………………………. 47 Habitat Management Guidelines ………………………………………………………………. 47 Habitat Guidelines for Grizzly Bears Currently in place in Western Montana……….. 49 Alternatives Considered…………………………………………………………………………. 49 C. POPULATION MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT………………………………….. 49 Monitoring Framework………………………………………………………………………….. 50 Population Size and Distribution…………………………………………………………… 50 Population Trend Monitoring…...…………………………………………………………... 51 Population Monitoring Guidelines……………………………………………………………... 51 Population Management Guidelines…………………………………………………………… 52 Future Distribution……………………………………………………………………………….. 54 Alternatives Considered…………………………………………………………………………. 56 D. HARVEST MANAGEMENT………………………………………………………………… 56 Harvest Management Guidelines…………………..…………………………………………… 58 Alternatives Considered…………………………………………………………………………. 60 E. ENFORCEMENT………………………………………………………………………………. 60 Alternatives Considered…………………………………………………………………………. 62 F. EDUCATION AND PUBLIC OUTREACH…….…………………………………………… 62 Alternatives Considered…………………………………………………………………………. 65 G. FUTURE RESEARCH…………………………………………………………………………. 65 H. COSTS AND FUNDING……………………………………………………………………... 66 Alternatives Considered…………………………………………………………………………. 68 I. EXPANDED LOCAL INVOLVEMENT……………………………………………………… 68 v TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT.) Page 5. ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES FOR FUTURE MANAGEMENT BY AREA……....……... 70 Cabinet‐Yaak Recovery Zone and Surrounding Areas……….……………………..………… 70 Alternative 1. Continue Existing Program………………………………………………….. 71 Alternative 2. Accelerated Recovery – FWPs preferred alternative…………………..….. 71 Alternative 3. Endangered Status…………....………………………………………………. 72 Northern Continental Divide Recovery Zone and Surrounding Areas……………………… 73 Alternative 1. Continue Existing Program – FWPs preferred alternative…………….…. 74 Alternative 2. Accelerated Recovery…………………………..…………………………….. 74 Alternative 3. Reduce Recovery Efforts……………………………………………………... 75 Bitterroot Recovery Zone and Surrounding Area………………….…………………………... 75 Alternative 1. Preparatory Planning – FWPs preferred alternative……..………...…….. 77 Alternative 2. No Action………………………………...……………………………………. 77 Alternative 3. Accelerated Recovery Through Reintroduction……………..…….……… 78 Short Term and Long Term Impacts………..……………..………………….…………………. 78 Cumulative Impacts………………………………………………………………………………. 80 Mitigation…………………………………………………………………………………………... 81 Irreversible and