[MCN] Take a Stand for Grizzly Bears in Montana: Rally and Hearing this Wednesday

[Dawn Serra]

*Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park is holding a public hearing and taking 
public comments on the Conservation Strategy for Northern Continental 
Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) grizzly bears, a prerequisite for removing 
Endangered Species Act protection through “de-listing". The hearing is 
this Wednesday, 9/26 at the Holiday Inn Parkside (200 S. Pattee Street 
59802) at 6:30 p.m.*

Join for a pre-hearing rally at 5:30 outside on the riverside (south) of 
the hotel.

*Please join us to show your opposition to trophy hunting of grizzly 
bears and your support for habitat protection, linkages and the 
Endangered Species Act!*

Montana’s State Animal needs increased habitat protection including 
roadless areas, low road density areas, and habitats that link the 
Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) with other grizzly bear 
populations in the Northern Rockies.

To send written comments:

Grizzly Bear ARM – Wildlife Division
Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, Montana, 59620-0701

By email: fwpgrizzlybeararm at mt.gov

Some suggested talking points:

1. A 90% probability of maintaining 800 bears in the NCDE core is an 
inadequate target. How many bears and how much habitat is needed for a 
single, connected population in the Yellowstone, NCDE, Cabinet-Yaak, 
Selkirks, and Selway-Bitterroot ecosystems?

2. The "lower 48" grizzly bears were listed under the ESA as 
"threatened" with extinction. Why are MDFWP and U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service trying to "divide and conquer" rather than "connect and recover" 
these ecosystems?

3. Grizzly bears are currently confined to about 2% of their former 
range and numbers. MDFWP should be ashamed to try and write into Montana 
law that this constitutes bear "recovery."

4. Grizzly bear hunting would kill bears needed for population expansion 
and ecosystem connectivity. If you want to write a law, make grizzly 
bear trophy hunting illegal in Montana forever.


*All public comments must be received by October 26, 2018. *

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