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Bill to add two bear specialists for Region 3 draws mixed reaction
Summary
HB 847 would fund two FWP bear specialist positions for Region 3 to expand prevention and response capacity; proponents highlighted multi‑agency responses to intensive grizzly incidents while FWP said it did not request the positions but could accept appropriations. The committee tabled the bill.
Representative Scott Rosenzweig (House District 57) presented HB 847 seeking funding for two dedicated bear specialist positions in Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ Region 3, which includes Gallatin and Park counties. Rosenzweig said growing grizzly range and human development create more conflicts and that additional staff would improve prevention and response.
Evan Stout, program manager for the Bear Awareness Gardener program, described Region 3 as geographically large with only one bear specialist and one technician, forcing specialists to triage reports and sometimes leave incidents unaddressed. He said unresolved conflicts can escalate quickly and that added staffing would allow more proactive prevention and timelier responses.
Support also came from ranching and conservation groups. Rayleigh Honeycutt (Montana Stockgrowers Association) and Mike Mershon (Montana Wildlife Federation) urged the committee to add capacity to reduce risk to rural communities. Proponents cited a recent protracted incident in the Gardener Basin in which a single bear generated more than 100 conflicts and required multi‑region responses.
Lina Havron, FWP’s chief financial officer, provided informational testimony: the department did not request these FTEs in the governor’s budget but indicated, if appropriated by the legislature, FWP could accept and fund the positions’ personal services and operating costs (roughly the fiscal note estimated personal services plus ~$20,000 operating each). Havron also said federal ESA funding is currently allocated and the department would not reallocate existing ESA funds for additional staffing.
Committee members asked for population and mortality data by region and pressed on how additional staff would be funded and coordinated with federal partners. The hearing record shows robust support from local stakeholders for added staff, while the department described the need but emphasized existing allocation choices through the governor’s budget. In executive action the committee moved HB 847 to the table.
