Grizzly bear managers are the largest source of bear mortality in NW Montana-
‘Management removals’ top cause of NW bear deaths. AP. Bozeman Chronicle.
One third of the deaths came at the hands of the managers. In second place was illegal shootings, about 15% of the deaths.
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Other Montana bear news. Two grizzlies drown (natural deaths). One shot way out on the prairie. Great Falls Tribune.
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
I have a question. When “management removals” are done, is any record kept of the people who called in the problem. How many times does a household get to call in a problem animal before they are relocated?
Please don’t refer to bears as “problem animals.” When problems arise, it is because humans moved into the bears’ habitat; not the other way around. The bears are only doing the same things that they have been doing here for tens of thousands of years, and there is nothing wrong with that. Wildlife managers should focus on the people problems, and leave the wild animals alone. To refer to bears as “problem animals” after their habitat has been usurped adds insult to injury.
If bears were in control, I think humans would be problem animals. 😉
People are the problem. Bears are attracted to bird feeders, pet food and garbage. If people have these items available in their yards, they will attract bears. I have fruit trees on my property, however, there is always enough for the bears, deer and birds that share the harvest. Be bear aware and do not intentionally draw bears into habited areas, practice bear safety in the woods and carry bear spray. For more information, please visit:
http://nandugreen.typepad.com/chasing_the_wind