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Lawmakers debate adding two grizzly bear specialists for Region 3
Summary
Representative Scott Rosenzweig asked the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee to add two grizzly‑bear specialist positions for Region 3 to bolster prevention and response; proponents said the region is understaffed and recent incidents required extensive staff time, while FWP said it did not request the positions through internal budget channels but could accept an appropriation; committee tabled the bill in executive action.
Representative Scott Rosenzweig told the House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee he is sponsoring House Bill 847 to add two bear‑management specialist positions for FWP Region 3 (which includes Gallatin and Park counties), arguing the current staffing — one specialist and one technician for a very large area — is insufficient to prevent and respond to human–bear conflicts.
Proponents including Evan Stout (Bear Awareness Gardener), the Montana Stockgrowers Association, and the Montana Wildlife Federation testified that additional staff would enable quicker response to multiple simultaneous conflicts, help prevent habituation through preventative infrastructure and education, and keep rural communities safer. Stout said one Region 3 incident required around-the-clock work across multiple regions and enforcements and that isolating specialists for safety limits their ability to split response duties.
Lina Havron, FWP chief financial officer, appeared as an informational witness and said the department did not request these two FTEs through internal divisions in its budget but could accept the appropriation with funding via a fiscal note. She confirmed that the department receives federal ESA funds for grizzly work but those funds are already allocated; she offered to provide committee members with more detailed regional staffing and population figures later.
Members pressed for details on how many acres and hunter‑days had been opened by recent access agreements and requested a regional breakdown of FTE allocations; witnesses offered to provide follow‑up data. Multiple members noted the 57.8 staff‑hour figure and the extended multi‑week responses to a single conflict as evidence of operational strain.
During executive action, a motion to table HB 847 carried on a roll call (15 ayes, 5 noes). The department and sponsor were asked to supply additional data and context to inform future consideration.
The committee's action leaves the measure tabled; proponents and the department signaled willingness to provide supplemental information if the committee reopens the bill.
