Coalition Comes Up With Grizzly Plan

A coalition of timber companies and environmental groups submitted a proposal on Thursday to reintroduce grizzly bears to the Bitterroot Mountains.

The group called for creation of a citizen committee to formulate policies and oversee day-to-day management of the bears, with help from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state fish and game agencies in Idaho and Montana.

The proposal was presented as an alternative for the draft environmental impact statement now being prepared on the proposed reintroduction of grizzlies to the Bitterroot ecosystem of western Montana and central Idaho.

The coalition said its plan would lead to a “a grizzly program that minimizes economic and social impacts to the fullest extent possible and gains the broad public support necessary for recovery.”

Coalition members include the Intermountain Forest Industry Association, National Wildlife Federation, Defenders of Wildlife and Resource Organization on Timber Supply.

“Our proposal would directly involve people from towns like Orofino and Hamilton in grizzly management and will show that we can recover endangered species without threatening the economic and social vitality of rural communities,” said Seth Diamond, wildlife program manager for the intermountain timber group.