Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Experts describe grizzly returns, risks and local sightings around Missoula
Summary
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks specialist Jamie Jonkel told a Bonner Milltown roundtable that grizzlies are increasingly appearing around Missoula but a self-sustaining population requires reproductive females; he outlined historical declines, recent verified sightings and management responses.
Jamie Jonkel, a wildlife management specialist with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, told a Bonner Milltown History Center roundtable that grizzly bears are appearing more frequently around Missoula but that an established, reproductive population has not yet formed.
Jonkel opened with history and context, recounting centuries of human impacts on grizzly distribution and population pressure from the fur trade and market hunting. He said the species has made a slow recovery since federal protection: “Since 1975, they’ve been protected by the endangered species act,” Jonkel said, noting that recovery has been concentrated in the Northern Continental…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
