The fearsome grizzly bear attracted a lot of attention and response last week in a column by Mariel Garza about a proposal to reintroduce the brown bear to the Golden State. The state Ecology Department says as much as 1,500 gallons of used motor oil spilled Sunday from a tank that failed at a former feed lot near Sunnyside and flowed into Sulphur Creek and the Yakima River. To me, it doesn't make sense to sink time and money into screwing with them if they'll become this untouchable thing that may or may not ever even be managed appropriately, let alone hunted. We support the recovery of large carnivores and other strongly interactive species, including Grizzly Bears, wherever possible in their native ranges. Your instinct is you want to pet them and play with them, but you can't. Rewilding the Sky Islands Region of the . Into Los Angeles, yes, I would support that. (Credit: Nature Picture Library/Alamy . In an emailed press release, Joe Scott, international program director for Conservation Northwest, said that the announcement ushers in an exciting chapter for grizzly bear restoration in the North Cascades., After 30 years of analyses, process and discussions we have a clear way forward, he said. All rights reserved (About Us). The last confirmed sighting of a grizzly bear in the U.S. portion of the North Cascades was in 1996, according to the National Park Service. The National Park Service is evaluating once again how grizzly bears could be reintroduced to North Cascades National Park. The bears would be captured and transported from interior British Columbia or Northwest Montana, according to a notice about the proposal. Biologists last estimated that fewer than 10 grizzly bears remain in the North Cascades, the most at-risk bear population in North America. Killed by a Grizzly Bear - It Happened in Oregon We know how to move bears successfully, and we know how to live with them safely, Servheen said in a statement. With the publics help we will evaluate a list of options to determine the best path forward.. The one glaring absence is the Grizzly Bear. Keep stress and discomfort of individual bears to the absolute minimum necessary to achieve gains for the natural community. The extreme area of northeast Oregon has been studied as another potential site for reintroduction, but as of this date no plans have been made to make that a reality. Feds nix plans to reintroduce grizzlies to Washington's - oregonlive Soon, grizzly bears, mountain lions, and other wildlife were seen perusing the valleys, and stream health markedly improved." Eliminating the "Missing Link" Another point that frequently gets brought up in favor of wolf reintroduction is the idea that reintroducing wolves will eliminate a "missing link" in the range of the gray wolf species. The opinions expressed in reader comments are those of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of The Seattle Times. Californians pushed the Wolf ballot in CO, I'm happy to support the Griz in CA. Once we have an "army" of these bears built up, we air drop them into heavily populated areas of CA and let them work their magic. We focus on the need for large carnivores and protected wildways for their movement; and we offer a bold, scientifically credible, practically achievable, and hopeful vision for the future of wild Nature and human civilization on planet Earth. Conservation group proposes bringing grizzly bears back into Arizona The introduction of grizzly bears into the North Cascades would directly, and negatively, impact the people and the communities I represent, Newhouse said. The view of The Rewilding Institute is that the Wilderness Act should not be so dogmatically interpreted as to proscribe vital restoration measures, but should be holistically interpreted to weigh heavily in favor of minimalist tools and intervention. Alternative C strikes a sound balance to meet the mutual goals of grizzly bear restoration and the needs of the people who depend on the natural areas in the recovery zone. A study published this week describes the work, which OPB's Cassandra Profita calls "an atlas of insect-caused tree mortality." Grizzly bears roamed across the North Cascades for thousands of years before humans hunted them to near-extinction. Predators roam central Oregon, but chances of attack are slim Should Jaguar and Grizzly Bear be reintroduced into most of the The animal activist buying tags thread got me thinking. U.S. Department of Interior news release: OMAK, WASHINGTONU.S. Secretary of the Interior David L.Bernhardtannounced today at a roundtable withcommunity members inOmak,Washingtonthat the Departmentof the Interior (Department)willnot move forwardwith anewGrizzly Bear Restoration Plan for the North CascadesEcosystemand the associated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The Recovery zone will eventually cover 9,800 square miles and will be a lifeline to these bears as they gradually recover from severely depleted populations across the West. A place where we can raise grizzlies to maturity while teaching them enjoy eating things like soy, tofu, and smoothies. "Black bears are more abundant than cougars," Akenson said. Newhouse also wrote letters in opposition during past planning processes, claiming there was not adequate public input. The USFWS has proposed four alternative approaches for grizzly bear restoration, ranging from a No Action approach to an Expedited Restoration approach, with varying degrees of government involvement in the reintroduction of grizzly bears from other regions to the North Cascades. Minimize the use of motorized vehicles in wild areas; machines should be used only as much as is necessary to achieve recovery goals. We also recognize that, in some places, natural recolonizationthe idealis unlikely, and active reintroduction is needed to restore full biotic communities. The post was uncommonly unfunny, Inman acknowledged on Tuesday, saying that he'd done it in a rush to beat the comments deadline. Bears are the same. The public largely supports reintroduction of this native species, as the bears are an integral part of healthy forest and mountain habitats in the Cascades, as well as an important part of regional Native American and First Nations cultures, dating back hundreds of years. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. With the publics help we will evaluate a list of options to determine the best path forward.. He said reintroducing the bears would be a threat to families, wildlife and livestock. We thank Secretary Haaland for leading this effort and look forward to welcoming grizzlies back home, Scott Schuyler, Policy Representative for the Upper Skagit Tribe said in a statement. For decades, bear advocates have argued that the only way to revive grizzlies in the North Cascades is by shipping in bears from elsewhere. In Oregon, state leaders last week banned the use of four types of neonicotinoids on linden trees and related species. Reintroduce Grizzlies into CA | Rokslide Forum If they happen to take out most people in those areas, so be it. During previous planning efforts, the National Cattlemens Beef Association and other ranching groups have opposed reintroduction. A grizzly limb bone discovered in Oregon Caves in the Klamath Mountains may be more than 50,000 years old, which would rank among the earliest brown-bear fossils found in North America. Federal plan would reintroduce grizzly bears to Washingtons Cascade mountains, By Lawrence Wilson | The Center Square contributor, What it Costs to Retire Comfortably in Washington, How Gas Taxes in Washington Compare to Other States, How Much Washington Taxes Its Residents Compared to Other States, How Much Home You Can Buy for $200k in Washington, Treasury gives Congress dire June 1 deadline on debt ceiling, Three years after pandemic began, Biden will lift federal vaccination mandates, Biden touts record, small businesses fire back. Grizzly bears are a key native species for the park and its ecological processes. I think they're funny," Inman said of bears. For example: They rarely harm or kill humans, even in places like Yellowstone National Park, where there are hundreds. Feds again consider reintroducing grizzlies to North Cascades Contests & Promotions, Crook County, Bend fire crews rescue kayaker stranded in high-running Crooked River in Prineville, Oregon Republicans try to stall bill on abortion, trans care, St. Charles shifts community funding priority, focusing on efforts to reduce loneliness, foster belonging. Bernhardt says grizzly bears are not in danger of extinction, and the Department of the Interior will focus on managing healthy grizzly bear populations across their existing range. The two agencies began researching the possibility of reintroducing grizzlies in 2015; in 2020, however, the Trump Interior Department terminated the process without offering a public explanation, sparking a lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity. Within a century, the agencies would aim to have a population of about 200 bears. The public overwhelmingly supports reintroduction of this native species, as the bears are an integral part of healthy forest and mountain habitats in the Cascades. I strongly encourage the people of Central Washington to attend the virtual meetings in order to voice their opinion and put this misguided proposal to rest, once and for all.. The grizzly is also an important part of regional Native American and First Nations' cultures, dating back hundreds of years. process to reintroduce grizzlies to North Cascades National Park. Were pleasantly surprised theyre reconsidering augmenting the population. Ransom said restoring grizzlieswould enhance biodiversity and could make the ecosystem more resilient to future changes. The National Park Service and U.S. Can you tell myth from fact? The National Park Service and U.S. As they eat and travel throughout their range, they spread seeds and nutrients, and as they dig for bulbs and other food in the ground, they help to aerate the soil. Grizzly bears are not in danger of extinction, and Interior will continue to build on its conservation successes managing healthy grizzly bear populations across their existing range., This announcement is welcomed by my constituents in Central Washington who have consistently shared my same concerns about introducing an apex predator into the North Cascades,said U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse (WA-04). To fully restore the ecological integrity of the North Cascades, we need to give Grizzly Bears a helping hand and actively bring them back. Scientists at Oregon State University are using satellite mapping to track insect damage on Northwest forests. Its been a long road to recovery for the grizzly. The way they move, and the way they sun themselves and lay there, they move like a house cat. In the case of the North Cascades and its once and future Grizzly Bear population, this means the National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and other partners in Grizzly recovery should take these important steps: The Rewilding Institute urges all conservation groups who are weighing in on Grizzly Bear recovery in the North Cascades to talk directly with each other and try to find common ground that restores Grizzlies while also upholding Wilderness values. The idea of reintroducing grizzlies to the region has been proposed before. North Cascades National Park, located roughly at its center, was the least-visited national park in the contiguous 48 states in 2021. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use, A grizzly bear and her cubs in Yellowstone National Park. The last verifiable sighting of a grizzly on the U.S. side of the North Cascades was in 1996, though people occasionally still spot them in British Columbias Cascade Mountains. The National Park Service has scheduled several virtual meetings to discuss the proposal. That could change if a federal program to reintroduce the bears to the Northern Cascades Ecosystem is approved by the Department of the Interior. Without them our wild areas are diminished, less diverse and sanitized. Grizzly reintroduction in the North Cascades became a hot issue in the Northwest and during the Trump administration, when restoration plans were subject to changing political whims. Supposedly the size of the coastal ones rivaled coastal griz in AK. He can be reached at Evan.Bush@nbcuni.com. It is vital that we demonstrate our support for the recovery of this ecologically and culturally significant species. The National Park Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service will investigate reintroducing grizzly bears to Washington's North Cascades, restarting a process the Trump administration halted seven years ago, the federal government said on Thursday.. "Here I am trying to tell people, 'Bears are sweet, calm down.' Four virtual public meetings will be held to gather . It does make for a very long road again to start from scratch, pretty much.. The North Cascades Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone will encompass the North Cascades National Park, plus several neighboring designated Wilderness Areas. Scientists hope the data will help them predict future outbreaks. It's not clear, but Matthew Inman says he is pretty sure he "gave them a kick in the butt. Federal plan would reintroduce grizzly bears to Washington's Cascade It will include considering a nonessential experimental population designation under the Endangered Species Act. Grizzlies havent been spotted with certainty in the North Cascades since 1996, the National Park Service said in a news release. Dave Parsons, TRI Carnivore Conservation Biologist And between 1969 and 1972, the species was reintroduced using individuals from Alaska and California. Can Washington State Save the Fewer Than 10 Grizzly Bears It Has Left Jagged peaks of the North Cascades rise into the clouds. And they eat a lot of plants, including berries when they're in season. Grizzlies have been a popular and divisive topic. Central Washingtons Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse was quick to criticize the plan. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. It is heartily backed by wildlife conservation organizations and Native American tribes. ET): A previous version of this article misstatedone of the services helping to reintroduce grizzly bears. North Cascades National Park has renewed efforts to evaluate how grizzly bears could be reintroduced to the park, restarting the effort that began in 2014 under the Obama administration. In 2014, under the Obama administration, federal officials announced a grizzly recovery study. With the publics help we will evaluate a list of options to determine the best path forward.. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. The Department of the Interior halted the previous reintroduction effortin 2020 under the Trump administration. The reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park has an unexpected upside: It's helping to fatten up the bears, new research suggests. Grizzlies roamed the North Cascades for thousands of years until the 1800s, when trapping and hunting reduced their numbers below viable levels; according to the NPS, most of the bear population was destroyed by the 1860s. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). The North Cascades is one of six areas where the federal government is looking to restore the grizzlies. Federal agencies are yet again considering plans to bring grizzly bears home to the deep forested valleys of the North Cascades where they once thrived. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. Ransom said that a few bears might be wandering the woods but that there arent enough to be considered a viable population and that theres little chance bears from other regions could travel far enough to jump-start populations. Grizzly bear just north of the National Elk Refuge in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo. Test yourself with these grizzly bear myths: The U.S. The grizzly has profound cultural significance and its restoration will enrich our ancestral lands and help restore the foundations of our cultural practices.. ", Inman is the man behind the super-popular comic website The Oatmeal, which features graphic, whimsical and surprisingly edifying posts on topics ranging from the coolness of mantis shrimps to correct usage of the word "literally." The GYE grizzly bear population is one of the most studied bear populations in the world due to the longstanding efforts of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) with grizzly bear populations increasing significantly since being listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1975. The Rewilding Institutes stand on Grizzly Bear reintroduction for the North Cascades. 2. We must all work together to make this . But habitat connections to the closest healthy Grizzly Bear populations, further north in British Columbia, have been broken by human development, precluding Grizzlies from being able to repopulate the NCE. Bear numbers in Washington dwindled due to hunting in the late 1800s, landing the grizzly on the endangered species list 40 years ago. 2 dead, 1 critically wounded in shooting at Cal Anderson Park in Seattle, Think Seattle-area property taxes are rising fast? They asked for public comments on the proposals, which range from doing nothing to building a new population of 200 bears within 25 years. The introduction of grizzly bears into the North Cascades would directly, and negatively, impact the people and the communities I represent, Newhouse said in the statement. Grizzly bear reintroduction considered in North Cascades National Park Kate McFarland, TRI Deputy Director Beginning in 2017, the Department held numerous public meetings, Tribal consultations and more than 70 stakeholder briefings, during which overwhelming opposition was received for the plan.