February 17, 1999 The Endangered Species Act (ESA) Its misuse and abuse! by Chuck Samuelson, USFS retired, '85 Bigfork, MT
If there are no grizzly bear in the Selway Bitterroot or Salmon Selway, it would be best for the bear and for the people that it be left that way. If as reported, there may be a few grizzly bear, then let them remain. Do not introduce more or reintroduce. It would definitely be a detriment to local citizens in the form of jobs, wages, timber products, and revenue to the area.
Occasionally there has been sightings reported of grizzly bears in the Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Wilderness. Some persons have even provided sworn statements to that effect.
Given the amount of traffic in these wildernesses, and the scarcity of quality grizzly bear habitat it would seem reasonable, if there are resident grizzly bears, they would be sighted occasionally, and possibly photographed, pilfering groceries or contemplating the procurement of a pack animal or even a person out for a relaxing stroll in the Wilderness..
CAG contends the only grizzly bears seen in these Wildernesses are voyagers coming through the area looking for a new home; finding the pickings pretty slim, the bears return to their old homes or move on like the bears in the Sweetwater Hills
End CAG Comments
A prime example of misusing the ESA with the aid of the grizzly bear is the Flathead National Forest, the Flathead Valley and anywhere else the bear decides to venture. Where ever the bear decides to venture, that area will be designated as essential to the recovery of the grizzly bear. A specific example is known as Crane Mountain. Crane Mtn. is located between Flathead Lake on the west side and Swan Lake on the east side. The north side is bonded by the area and community of Ferndale. The south end abuts the Flathead Indian Reservation. Crane Mtn. is basically the northern most tip of the Mission Mountain Range. The west side of Crane Mtn. contains the famous cherry orchards of the Flathead Lake area.
The mountain covers about two townships, has been heavily managed beginning in the early 1950's. Did contain about 200 miles of well constructed roads. Many of the roads were short spurs but some would eventually be lengthened to access additional timber stands. An environmental impact statement was prepared about four years ago to cover a bug killed lodge pole timber sale on the upper west side of the mountain. Contained in that E.I.S. was the justification to eliminate or to render useless all of the road system except for about 40 miles. Crane Mountain is now defacto wilderness. Basically with the use of declaring the mountain essential to the recovery of the grizzly bear even though the mountain is a peninsula surrounded by civilization. All bears enjoy cherries, apples, and dog food.
Unfortunately, about fifty years of forest management is being abandoned along with millions of dollars invested in the transportation (road) system. Millions of dollars of wood products have been brought off of the mountain which provided jobs, wages, taxes, and revenue to the Counties for roads and schools from the 25% fund. The 25% fund has shrunk to virtually nothing due to the refusal of the U.S. Forest Service to manage or produce products or services. The Forest Service proposal about a year ago was to do away with the 25% fund totally and just send a welfare check to the counties based on past 25% fund receipts. Even PILT payments have not be honored totally.
Crane Mountain is but one small isolated area effected by the misuse of the ESA and the grizzly bear. The isolated mountain area was and is not essential to the recovery of the grizzly bear. It is a hoax and a cruel one at that on the citizens of the area. Millions also invested in reforestation, completely abandoned.
Up until the 1980's, the Flathead National Forest harvested about 150 million board feet of timber. Through court actions over the grizzly that amount was set at about 100 million but through required consultation with the USFWS was reduced to 54 million. Last year the forest produce 5 million. All figures are annual.
The Flathead N.F. is about 2.3 million acres. Over I million is wilderness. Only about 600,000 acres could be available for timber management. Unfortunately, only about 200,000 acres is not deemed essential for the grizzly. And unfortunately, the USFS does not have a burning desire to manage for multiple benefits which includes wood fiber. The land managers (foresters) have all been purged. It is run by wildlife biologists and other "ologists. There goal is to manage by exclusion. If there is a perceived problem in the forest, "close it'. If a road causes a problem, close it or destroy the road. There are some horrible examples of road destruction by excavating culverts and not rebuilding the stream banks and stream beds. The road destruction is justified by many excuses. Wildlife security, watershed restoration, lack of maintenance funds, lack of people to monitor and more excuses that I can't recall.
The famous bear study that came to the conclusion that bears had an aversion to roads and set the road density standards to less than one mile of road for each square mile of mountainous terrain was developed from the study above the west shore of Hungry Horse Resoivoir. On the east side of a mountain which overlooks the Flathead Valley and Kalispell, Montana. The study took over five years in a portion of the most heavily roaded and logged over area that one could imagine. According to hunters and outfitters it also contained more grizzly bear than any area in or out of the Wilderness areas. From newspaper articles with photos, the study took close to 10 years of baiting, snaring, tranquilizing, collaring, tagging ears, tattooing lips, weighing, pulling teeth, and who knows what else. Never did hear how many bears gave their lives in the name of science. To attract the bears into the area of the baited snares, dead dear carcasses were dragged up and down the mountain roads behind vehicles for scent trails. If a snared bear had a mate with it that could cause a problem, the snared bear was tranquilized and dragged out to the vehicle and hauled down the road away from the area to finish working the bear over. This study determined that the grizzly bears had an aversion to roads. Consequently the roads must not be used and some are being destroyed. The study was conducted by Montana Fish & Game biologists. The results of this study along with any other excuse imaginable are used to close permanently and/or destroy forest management roads which also brings an end to forestry and forest management.
As an added kicker, from the Forest Services own study, outside of wilderness area of the Flathead National Forest there is 235 million board feet of growth annually. There is 83 million board feet of timber mortality each year. The annual mortality would supply several mills employing possible several hundred people. Again the Flathead National Forest sold about 5 million board feet last year. The Flathead Forest has 8 billion board feet standing. To put 83 million board feet (annual mortality) into perspective, it would be enough lumber to build about 8,000 modest homes. That's products, jobs, wages, revenue to the treasury and county, and taxes forever on structures such as homes. It is all part of the economy, stupid. The forest roads are being destroyed and closed. The biologists in charge are not about to let anyone or anything in that would disturb the grizzly. The biologists do not even trust their own people that have gate keys so it is best to destroy the road.
The lack of roads on the forest is having a devastating effect on wildlife due to being unable to control the predator populations. In addition to that, the wolf has been added to the predator list with the grizzly, black bear and the mountain lion. Ungulate populations from a tough winter several winters ago in addition to the predator population have decimated the ungulates in the North Fork of the Flathead, adjacent to Glacier Park. There has been virtually no timber harvest, logging, on the Flathead National Forest for about 10 years. Consequently, very little new browse and forage has been created for wildlife purposes. The timber harvest units created prior to that period have grown up with conifers that crowds out the browse and forage.
Almost every day in the local newspapers there were reports of problems in the Flathead Valley with grizzly and black bears looking for food. Several wardens worked continuously almost day and night trapping and moving bears. With all the forest road destruction, the options to dump the bears is limited, so they chase the bears with special dogs and shoot the bears with rubber bullets. Thirty three (33) orphaned black bear cubs were turned in, fed special milk starter, fattened up with apples and denned up in special boxes and placed back in timber country. With the taste of apples, those cubs will no doubt be back demanding special handling. Will this coming summer be a repeat of last summer for bear problems. Their were numerous grizzly bears that frequented the valley last summer and had to be handled. No one knows but the biologists how many grizzly may have died from handling.
Forest management, including wildlife management on the Flathead National Forest is completely out of balance. The large predators are out of balance, especially with the return of the wolf. The lack of timber harvest and the destruction of the forest roads is an absolute detriment to people and especially wildlife. The country is too small and interspersed with people to not manage the National Forests to the maximum.
The decision to reintroduce the grizzly should be strictly up to the local people of the Bitterroot, Selway -Salmon area only after being apprised of all the facts. Without influence of outside national environmental organizations. Unfortunately, that won't happen.
If the grizzly is introduced, the National Forest will be off limits to management for multiple uses and what roads that may remain open will be closed and destroyed. The bear is only one tool in the kit to be used to "lock up" the public lands to exclude people.