Reintroducing Grizzlies

[fisheral87]

Look like the Mount Vernon Meeting is not just an open house.

9:00 a.m. – Skagit County Board of Commissioners Hearing Room
1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, WA – Google Maps
*Note: This is a special meeting of the Skagit County Board of Commissioners regarding grizzly bear restoration. It's important for Skagit County grizzly bear supporters to attend and speak up on behalf of grizzly bear restoration!

Al

[Colorado Kid]

Another contact to send your comments to are our elected representatives, make sure they understand our concerns! Hopefully we can find more avenues to find those who will advocate for outdoorsman and hunters, and protect what deer, moose, and elk populations we have left. Why isn't something being done to save the endangered woodland caribou population that is disappearing from south of the Canadian border. High wolf population and now Grizzlies??? Who picked Grizzlies as the priority? I wonder if an overpopulation of National Park Grizzlies are being moved to Washington!

[bracer40]

For educational purposes The Meateater podcast #55 (released 2/9/17) features a long discussion about bears with a grizzly biologist. Very interesting conversation. Learned a few things as I do nearly every time I listen to his podcasts.

[jasnt]

Another contact to send your comments to are our elected representatives, make sure they understand our concerns! Hopefully we can find more avenues to find those who will advocate for outdoorsman and hunters, and protect what deer, moose, and elk populations we have left. Why isn't something being done to save the endangered woodland caribou population that is disappearing from south of the Canadian border. High wolf population and now Grizzlies??? Who picked Grizzlies as the priority? I wonder if an overpopulation of National Park Grizzlies are being moved to Washington!

its all part of the shift to non-consumptive management

[SpurInSpokane]

When I was in high school I did a report on grizzly and at that time (98) the state claimed we had 54 grizzlies in WA and also 50% more that where only here at specific times of the year. Now they say a dozen?  Wish I could find that report as that info came from dfw. Where did they all go?  Why has the population not increased?

This is a really good question, and the answer gets at why they're pushing to bring in grizzlies.
I believe the report you're referencing is :https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev2_038072.pdf
If not, it's close to the same time, and estimates a total of around 50 grizzlies in the North Cascades and Selkirk ecosystems.
The problem highlighted in the report is that these numbers, split between two ecosystems, is too low to maintain the population. In other words, 50 bears in 1999/2000 translates to fewer bears today, there's just not enough to reproduce and keep up with mortality.
The number needed to maintain the population? They estimate 200 bears, which is why they're pushing to bring in grizzlies from Montana or BC (the rate is the main difference between the 4 options) to try and get the population to maintenance level.

TL;DR: Anything less than ~200 bears is as good as zero grizzlies in WA.

[Special T]

Alpine club possible ally

Chris Morgan bear specialist bio 20 year was state Bellingham  grizzly bear outreach program

Gary citizens alliance for property rights had lots of good statistics on Grizzly and the pro crowd not from here.   

Randy from Hamilton  not a fan of usfw called out how has currently managed elk.

RCW77.12.035  making  importation of Grizzlies illegal.

Wolf haven international rep was here Steven Cow

Grand Taylor advocacy group national conservation advocacy for NP group.

Direct friends of Skagit county spoke on only representing herself. She makes a case that we need more risk assessment the Dems is in sufficent and comparable for transplant are too different.

[buglebrush]

Way too many Grizzlies already!  Why in heaven's name would a hunter support more?  They are a tool to shut us down.  For example they are the reason there is no spring bear season in 113.  "Endangered Species" are the environmentalists biggest weapon, and don't believe the garbage they are spewing.  I have plenty of pictures of WA grizzlies on my cameras.   We don't need more, we need less!

[buglebrush]

I was just doing a search on Grizzly Bears PNW and found a 2016 Sierra Club article saying is has been at least 50 since the the last Grizz was photographed. 

Ha! I got about 40 pictures of Griz in WA this year alone!  Ridiculous! 

[Special T]

Minutes and video of the meeting will be available online.
Www.skagitcounty.net.  click
Directory
Skagit21
On Demand Online
Border of commissioners meeting
Feb 22 9am

[bearpaw]

I too have seen grizzlies in Washington and know of numerous animals others have seen. I wouldn't be opposed to having a managed grizzly population in remote areas. But the problem is that the animal rights groups and liberals will use grizzlies as a tool to lock up access and restrict hunting. For these reasons I am forced to oppose grizzly introductions!

[KFhunter]

I also think it's a ploy to lock up lands.   

[fishngamereaper]

If they want to be here they already know how to get in...I saw  grizz in the Alpine lakes in the mid 90's..took a pic, showed the region 3 bio...he's like yep, we know a few are around... PS don't tell anyone..

It's not like the canadian border is fenced.....introduction is a stupid way of phrasing want they really want to do...more alpha predators less big game. Less hunters...

[NWWA Hunter]

I reached out to at least 50 sportsmen to attend the meeting in Bellingham last night. Not one who I reached out to came. There were probably 60 plus people there and maybe only 6 who had serious questions against the proposals and incomplete science and answers. Only 1 I saw from on our side was there on their own accord in a non political fashion. If we sit on our hands there will be hundreds of grizzlies here, decimated salmon runs, and road, campgrounds, and other closures all over the state in a few years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[buglebrush]

If they want to be here they already know how to get in...I saw  grizz in the Alpine lakes in the mid 90's..took a pic, showed the region 3 bio...he's like yep, we know a few are around... PS don't tell anyone..

It's not like the canadian border is fenced.....introduction is a stupid way of phrasing want they really want to do...more alpha predators less big game. Less hunters...

Exactly.  The future of hunting in WA is not good.  I am starting to build points for myself and my kids in other states.

[Southpole]

So they are going to hold 2 meetings the same day? One in darrington one down town MV? I would love to go, but I'm not sure I'm well versed enough on the subject to be a great voice on the issue. Perhaps I could go and just report on it.

There is no voice, it's an open house with a bunch of banners you can read along with a few employees that you can ask questions. At least that is how the cashmere one was set up. Quite the joke 

They're just letting the public know what they ARE going to do, they don't care to hear your opinion. It's a done deal.