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Bill would require prerelease notice to counties and tribes for large predator releases, FWP says it can implement
Summary
House Bill 648 would require Fish, Wildlife & Parks to notify county commissioners, sheriffs and tribes in advance of planned releases of large predators and to publish an annual plan of potential release sites; FWP staff described how regional notification and pre‑identified sites would work.
Representative Brandon Lear presented House Bill 648, which would require Fish, Wildlife & Parks to provide local governments and tribes advance notice about planned releases of large predators and to maintain an annual plan of pre‑identified release sites.
Quentin Kujala, FWP’s chief of conservation policy, told the committee the department already maintains lists of grizzly bear release sites and is developing a list for black bear releases. He said regions would notify county commissioners and sheriffs of their county’s list of potential release sites and that pre‑release notification would be required for movements across county lines or when animals are held more than 24 hours.
Local government witnesses and county commissioners supported the bill as a transparency measure. Darren Misky, a county commissioner, called it ‘‘needed for transparency with the FWP’’ and said notification would help ranchers and landowners plan for livestock and public safety. Montana Audubon and the Farm Bureau offered qualified support after sponsor amendments addressed earlier concerns. The committee closed the hearing for later action.
