More Griz, Poll Says

Washington residents appear to favor efforts to boost grizzly bears in the North Cascades, according to a poll commissioned by environmental groups.

The poll, conducted by Elway Research of Seattle, asked 405 registered voters across the state the following question:

“A small number of grizzly bears survive in the wilderness of Washington’s Cascade Mountains. Scientists believe that without help, this population is likely to go extinct in the near future. Do you support or oppose government efforts to build up the grizzly bear population in the Cascades?”

Of those surveyed, 50 percent said they supported bear recovery efforts, 36 percent opposed them and the remainder did not answer or did not know. The poll has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 5 percent.

The state Senate Natural Resources Committee is considering HB5106, which would block the state from participating in possible federal efforts to enhance the Cascades grizzlies by bringing in bears from outside the state, Fish and Game officials said.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Compiled from staff and wire reports