It's getting old: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service undermines the public trust regarding grizzly bears, again

In an October 2nd article in the Missoulian, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator Dr. Chris Servheen made several statements that undermined the broader public interest in grizzly bears, and were misleading about the role of environmentalists in conserving grizzly bears and the level of public support for bear recovery.

Servheen is quoted as saying that “It’s the people who live and work and recreate on bear habitat that bears need, not environmental groups and their supporters.”  But anyone who read the administrative record on the Yellowstone grizzly bear delisting case, or who attended any of the public meetings over the last several decades on grizzly bears would arrive at a very different conclusion.  Most of the people who work and recreate in the grizzly bear country and most of the people who have commented on grizzly bear proposals in the Northern Rockies hold conservation-oriented values about grizzly bears, and are concerned about grizzly bear habitat.

Of the roughly 211,000 (out of a total of 212,000) comments that expressed opposition to premature removal of endangered species protections for Yellowstone grizzly bears, many of the voices were environmentalists—or people who expressed environmental values—including many thousands of people who live and recreate in grizzly bear habitat.  Some excerpts are summarized below.  The people who have had the most intimate experiences with grizzly bears are some of their biggest supporters – visitors and residents.  The Great Bear’s best friends are often those who have had experience with them and the wilderness they depend on.

The FWS unfairly discounts the many years of dedication and active involvement in grizzly bear conservation by thousands of people who may or may not call themselves “environmentalists”, but who time and again express support for grizzly bears and their habitat. These voices are legitimate expressions of public concern, and they should be counted fairly by the agency in charge of grizzly recovery and protecting the public trust. 

It is long past time for grizzly bear managers to reconsider their relationship with the public and the duty to protect the broader public trust, rather than narrow special interests.  Discounting large portions of the public who have been raising legitimate concerns for decades, and who are dedicated to the future of a healthy grizzly bear population, undermines civil society. And such behavior ultimately does a disservice to the cause of preserving the grizzly bear, one of the greatest icons of wilderness that we have left.

Excerpts of what residents and visitors in grizzly country said about Yellowstone grizzly delisting in letters to Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS):  

Following are excerpts of comments from residents and visitors to grizzly bear country to FWS. Over 99% of the comments received by FWS opposed delisting of grizzlies in Yellowstone, and supported ongoing legal protections. These came from comments submitted to FWS on the delisting proposal in 2006.

“The federal government stubbornly persists in its efforts to remove Yellowstone grizzlies from the ESA…[m]eanwhile, practices and trends that have long been accepted as environmentally destructive continue to build in full force.  Without a change in governmental perception of natural resources and the needs of animal populations, a delisting measure will effectively exterminate the grizzlies of Yellowstone.” Lindsay D., Bozeman, MT

Dr Servheen, now is not the time to delist grizzlies.  I think the decision is a political and not based upon sound science.  By delisting grizzly bears at this time, you would not only be betraying the bears, you would be betraying sound science.”  Charles R., Bozeman, MT

I have been very interested in the great grizzly bear ever since I first saw them in Yellowstone National Park back in the 1930s when I was a young boy growing up in Billings and Helena, Montana.  And in my life time I have worked on the trails in Yellowstone and later was a Park Ranger Naturalist and a tour guide in the park, and had the great privilege of working with the Craighead brothers in the Hayden Valley in Yellowstone, with the grizzly bear, and some time with the black bear also….I do not want them to be delisted and put in the hands of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho as they will then be hunted, killed, and no on will give a damn about them or their numbers.  They need to stay on the endangered list and be taken care of.”  Ralph R., Greybull, WY.

“I strongly oppose the plan to delist the grizzly bear.  There are not enough grizzlies.  They do not breed fast enough to ensure a viable population.  I have lived on my ranch on the Wood River outside of Meeteetse for more than 30 years.  In the beginning there were no grizzlies.  I have seen three bears in the last ten years.  They are coming back, but very slowly….Every time I see one, it is a great thrill.  The sightings make me glad to live in Wyoming.  Do not allow these magnificent animals to be hunted.  We need more grizzly bears.  They are the spirit of the wild and the free.  They are what makes Wyoming a unique and exceptional place to live.” Charles R., Meeteetse, WY

“As an old native of Montana, I now appreciate the values of the bears and wildlife during my stay at my grandfather’s homestead.  We were taught to fear, enjoy and respect the bears on our land with the lords blessing to live together…You have those that are hell bent on getting rid of all wildlife and those that want to use it for their own selfish way of life.  These aren’t more animals just more people and less land.  Think of the west-wildlife are what it is.”  Virginia E., Sheridan, WY

“It is too early to delist (maybe someday”).  I have lived in Dubois for 50 years and watched this process with cautious optimism, then joy, now alarm.”  Cynthia B., Dubois, WY

“We can’t even imagine the suggestion that the grizzly should be delisted from the Endangered Species Act of 1975.”  D B and Marcia B.,Troy, MT.

“Delisting the grizzly bears of Yellowstone is a bad idea.  This is a population that has begun to recovery from earlier assaults and poor management decisions, but it is not secure.  It is an island population that will, unless given access to other grizzlies beyond this ecosystem, eventually die out.”  James P/, Yellowstone Park

“Delisting is simply not an option; the human-caused deaths of many grizzlies each year is reason enough to keep existing regulations in place.”  Lee S., Bozeman, MT

“We have worked so long and so hard to reach these modest numbers.  The poachers, railroads, cars, poisonings, and mistakes by hunters certainly keep the grizzly numbers in check, as it is.  What a success story we have.  Let us continue to protect, and when the numbers are large for an area, if that should happen, move this magnificent animal to other areas where the gene pool may be enhanced…I am a life-long Montanan, not a bleeding heart transplant to the state who has never seen a live animal.  I believe it is our human obligation to share the planet, and to be good stewards, rather than to ravage it in the name of greed, ignorance and arrogance.”  Jill M., Absarokee, MT

“…Last but not least are the dramatic changes which are occurring across grizzly country.  One needs only to look at the area between Yellowstone Park and Cody to see how human encroachment has affected the bears.  If your agency doesn’t think that the financially heavy hitters who have property there don’t have influence in Wyoming political decisions I’d like to drink what you are drinking.  There is a long time saying in Butte, USA—“money talks and BS walks”.  If the persistent effort of the present administration to sell off attractive chunks of federal land succeeds in the Cody to Yellowstone situation will only worsen…I’m a life- long resident of Montana and in my 72 years I’ve seen so many negative changes occur that I’m truly concerned that the Montana that I love is in a death spiral. We can’t risk a mistake in managing the grizzly bear that would put the Great Bear, a Montana icon, at risk.”   Ed B., Gardiner, MT

“After 67 years of living in Cody, Wy. Area, and being a life long big game hunter I am trying to justify delisting the grizzly.  I volunteer now with the Wapiti District, Shoshone Natl Forest, just east of Yellowstone.  I am in the field 7 days a week and looking for bears.  I have not seen enough bears to make me feel like delisting is warranted.  I doubt you folks know the mouthwatering frenzy you have created by making your announcement to delist the bear.  Every outfitter in the area is already calling hunters booking hunts, and the Wyo. G and Fish is counting their money.  As one grandfather of hunters I say very strongly—you people are out of your minds, do not delist the bear.”  Danny S., Cody, WY

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