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Montana wildlife official warns proposed federal grizzly delisting map broadens scope; public comment open through March
Summary
Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks told the Senate Agriculture Committee that U.S. Fish and Wildlife's proposed rule redraws the delisting polygon and denies the state's petition; the agency urged stakeholders to review the proposal and consider comments ahead of a Jan. 28 Missoula public meeting and a March 17 comment deadline.
Quentin Kujala, chief of conservation policy for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), told the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Committee on Jan. 14 that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service responded to state petitions by proposing a much larger distinct population segment (DPS) for grizzly-bear management than Montana had expected and denied the petitions that sought delisting for two recovered ecosystems.
Kujala summarized the agency's position and the process for public input: the service proposed a DPS that spans a wide area across the northern Rockies and would delist grizzly bears outside that polygon, while leaving the bears inside the new polygon subject to further consideration. A federal comment period runs from Jan. 15 through March 17; the service is hosting a public meeting in Missoula on Jan. 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Kujala said the service…
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