Washington State Grizzly Reintroduction

[WildlifeAssassin]

There are people actively pushing grizzly reintroduction in the North Cascades. During the last WDFW commission meeting they voted to keep grizzlies on the endangered list and spoke about a department committee working with the feds on this.
You can watch here:
https://player.invintus.com/?clientID=2836755451&eventID=2019061003
It is right around 4hrs in.
The employee giving the presentation mentions they received 21 comments, 8 of which were opposing reintroduction. Immediately after his talk a crazy lady tells the commission their group has received 12,000 or 120,000 comments in support of reintroduction. WE HAVE TO MAKE COMMENTS OR THIS WILL BE WOLVES ALL OVER AGAIN. The Cascades cannot handle more apex predators being dropped on the land.

Contact the commission directly, email them at: commission@dfw.wa.gov

PLEASE take the couple of minutes to let them know the hunters in this state are opposed to this insanity. Just because an animal lived here at one time in history doesn’t make it appropriate in current times. Over 7 million people now live in their former range in WA state. Take action now or don’t complain when there is no hunting left in this state.

[ctwiggs1]

e-mail sent!

[bigtex]

It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out. Many were shocked when Trump's Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke publicly announced for the introduction of grizzlies in WA. His view was well it's been okay in Montana so why not WA. Zinke is gone, Dave Bernhardt is in. However, Bernhardt hasn't really shifted course with anything Zinke did and realistically Bernhardt is more involved in the commercial side of the Interior Department whereas Zinke catered to both.

[boneaddict]

Alot of places I go already have them, so I pay little attention.  Mostly food and habitat limits them to why they aren't around in the first place.   They arent going to impact ungulates nearly like their other pet project.     

[KFhunter]

Alot of places I go already have them, so I pay little attention.  Mostly food and habitat limits them to why they aren't around in the first place.   They arent going to impact ungulates nearly like their other pet project.   

I think grizz impact ungulates far more than one would think, they're very adept at taking calves off birthing grounds but also push wolves to kill more frequently due to robbing and bumping wolves and cats off kills. Grizz have no different requirements than do black bears, but they prefer more scavenging and meat, so that is the limiting factor.  Grizz would impact elk herds more so than other ungulates.

[WildlifeAssassin]

Alot of places I go already have them, so I pay little attention.  Mostly food and habitat limits them to why they aren't around in the first place.   They arent going to impact ungulates nearly like their other pet project.   

In isolation I agree but we are talking about adding grizzlies on top of wolves. Aside from the heavy predation on fawns and calves in spring you can expect bears to also steal wolf, lion and black bear kills forcing them to kill more.

[boneaddict]

True

[Bango skank]

Email sent to commission and director

[Bango skank]

I find it absolutely ridiculous that they want us to pay more money for hunting licenses because they need more funding, but they want to use that money for things that will further reduce our hunting opportunity.

[Pegasus]

They can release all the grizzllies they want in this state as long as they dump them in Seattle and Olympia.

[WildlifeAssassin]

Thank you to everyone making comments. I would like to remind everyone that the grizzly/brown bear is the most widely distributed and populous species of bear IN THE WORLD.

[Bango skank]

I got this response today in regards to my email i sent:


 

Thank you for contacting the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife(WDFW).

 

WDFW is not reintroducing Grizzly Bears into Washington state.

 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS) and National Park Service(NPS), is looking to establish a 200 bear population in the 6.1million acres of the North Cascades Ecosystem over a 25 to 100 year timeline. WDFW would respond to “grizzly bear” calls where the public are concerned about human safety or property damage whether they are truly black bears or are in fact are grizzlies. WDFW would add this in to similar work we do related to black bears, cougars, wolves and other wildlife, which would minimize the “new” work load in the North Cascades. To offset costs of grizzly work, the agency would likely seek funds from USFWS and/or NPS.

 

The USFWS and NPS in March of 2017, hosted a series of public meetings around Washington state. During these meeting public impute was taken. Public impute was also accepted online at, https://parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsOpenForReview.cfm?parkID=327&projectID=44144. At this time both agencies are no longer accepting public impute.

 

For more information on this plan, including the formal process for filing an objection with the NPS, please visit https://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkID=327&projectID=44144.

 

Sincerely,

 

Wildlife Program Customer Service

(360) 902-2515

[SWHUNTER]

Just got an email that they are re-opening the comment period....








Comment Period Reopened on Draft North Cascades Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan/Environmental Impact Statement

 

Public comment period open through October 24, 2019

 

Sedro-Woolley, Wash. – The National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) are reopening the public comment period on the Draft North Cascades Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for 90 days, through October 24, 2019. The public is invited to view the Draft EIS online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/grizzlydeis.

 

All comments previously received on the Draft EIS during the public comment period that was open from January 12, 2017 through April 28, 2017 will be considered. If you would like to provide additional comments, you may do so as follows:

 

The preferred method for submitting comments is on the NPS PEPC website at: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/grizzlydeis.
You may also mail or hand-deliver your comments to: Superintendent’s Office, North Cascades National Park Service Complex, 810 State Route 20, Sedro Woolley, WA 98284.
 

The NPS and USFWS will consider all additional comments received or postmarked no later than October 24, 2019.

 

Comments will not be accepted by fax, email, or any other way than those specified above. Bulk comments in any format (hard copy or electronic) submitted on behalf of others will not be accepted. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

 

If additional opportunities for public comment are offered, they will be announced via news release and posted on agency websites, including the website listed above, at least two weeks in advance.

 

More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.

 

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

 


Thank you for your interest in this project.
The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

[KFhunter]

This is where you need to go to view the draft and submit comments.

https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=327&projectID=44144&documentID=77025

[KFhunter]

My comment this go around.


NO!

Washington Ungulates are facing unprecedented challenges with wolves establishing on the landscape and gross mismanagement by the state WDFW agency. WDFW had been failing to properly managing predators and has led to a rapid decline in our Elk herds as well as other ungulate species.  We in Washington are inundated with too many Mt. Lions, too many black bear, too many wolves. Introduction of yet another apex predator would contribute to an even greater decline.  I know that it is the practice to relocate problem bears, don't lie to us, we don't want problem bears either!   

If the Grizz want to be in the Cascade ecosystem they'll get there naturally;

We don't need them imported from other western states happy to be rid of them.