June 12, 2001, Missoulian article by Sherry Devlin: Ninemile grizzly found in
rare territory.
CAG Comment
The tone of this article indicates Chris Servheen and the Interagency Grizzly bear reintroduction committee [ IGBRC] (regardless of what moniker they have a the present time) are attempting to convince the public, of Idaho and Montana the reintroduction of grizzly bears into a habitat that is less than adequate, will pose no problem and will be lots of fun watching out that, as residence of the area, we do not inadvertently leave food out that would attract the bears. Eventually the IGBRC will devise a system fines to be applied to those who are unfortunate enough to misplace some oats, barley, wheat, dog food, cat food, pellets, baby formula, beef jerky, chewing gum -- you name it.
The fact remains the areas where the reintroduction is proposed is of poor quality and, on a given year, the grizzly bears will be here in the Bitterroot Valley looking for food just as the occasional black bear does now. Grizzly bears will be a whole different ball game.
Actually, the federal government should do away with the IGBRC, or whatever its current name is, as it is a huge waste of taxpayers money that could be better spent on worthwhile projects.
Kathleen Marquardt pointed out many years ago that the federal government was (and now is) in the process of changing from a deomcracy to TOP DOWN MANAGEMENT. When that is completed, grizzly bears will be the least of our problems.
As you are all well aware this process has destroyed hundreds, if not thousands, of businesses throughout western United States and is now concentrating on the states that straddle the Rocky Mountains with a pipe dream called Y2Y.
End CAG Comment
A young male grizzly was grazing on the ridgeline west of Squaw Peak on Monday, the
first of its ilk documented west of Highway 93 for years and years.
"He's in good, wild country - right where we want him," said Chris Servheen, the
federal government's grizzly bear recovery coordinator. "It's exciting to see and
real encouraging."
The 3-year-old bear was trapped last week in the lower Ninemile Valley, near McCormick
Creek, after it fed on garbage stashed in the back of a pickup. It was the first
documented grizzly in the Ninemile for decades.
After being fitted with a radio collar and an ear-tag transmitter, the Ninemile grizzly
was released along the Reservation Divide. On Monday, a pilot spotted the bear about eight
miles from where it was released, still in 'high country.
"He was finding food on his own, before he got down into the valley, and, there are
lots of forbs and grasses along the divide, so I'm hopeful," said Servheen. "The
Ninemile is excellent habitat for grizzlies. There are a lot of good wet sites,
south-facing slopes and berry species on both sides of the divide. "
Servheen said he has no idea where the bear which weighed 375 pounds when captured came
from or where it will now wander. Or if there are other 'grizzlies in the area. The
nearest known population of grizzlies is on the west slope of Mission Mountains, in the
Ninepipes area.
"A long way from the Ninemile," he said. " And we don't see grizzlies
moving that far at all, so it would be interesting to know where he came from."
There have been occasional sightings in the Dixon area and occasionally in the Ninemile
over the years, but no tracks or documentation, Servheen said. Ninemile residents tell
stories of lone grizzlies, once every few years.
"In the Evaro area, we had a bear cross Highway 93 a few times in 1978,"
Servheen said. " And there was a bear killed near Edith Peak 35 years ago. But there
just hasn't been much, or anything, for a long time."
"We're just happy that they've come back for another visit," said Bette
Thisted, who lives in the upper Ninemile. "They come to see us every now and then.
They're around." For now, Servheen's priority is to make sure people store their
foods properly.
"If everyone takes a few precautions, they will be able to live quite happily with
both grizzly bears and black bears," he said The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which
employs Servheen and the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks already met with
Ninemile residents, schooling them in proper garbage disposal and pet care.
Bird feeders need to be suspended at least 10 feet off the ground or taken in at night.
Homeowners, campers and others including mushroom pickers prowling burned areas in
the upper Ninemile need to store garbage, pet food and other bear attractants inside a
building or vehicle.
"People in the Ninemile are very positive about living with a grizzly," Servheen
said. "Everyone wants to try and keep this bear out of trouble. They want
us to take good care of him."