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Notice of Public Hearing on Rule Amendment Regarding NCDE Grizzly Bear Demographic Objectives

Jan 14, 2022 4:01 PM

On February 8, 2022, at 1:30 p.m., the Fish and Wildlife Commission (commission) will hold a telephonic public hearing via the ZOOM meeting platform to consider the proposed amendment of the above-stated rule.  There will be no in-person hearing. 

Interested parties may access the remote conferencing in the following way:

  • Dial by telephone: 1 206 337 9723

  • Meeting ID: 899 9202 1036

  • Password: 948944

 

In 2018, the commission passed a regulatory mechanism for grizzly bear management in the event that the threatened grizzly bear under the federal Endangered Species Act was delisted and management authority transferred to the State of Montana.  ARM 12.9.1403 is intended to provide for management objectives that would ensure the continued recovered status of grizzly bear upon delisting.  The rule commits to the standards outlined in the NCDE Conservation Strategy for presence of females in the NCDE, managing mortalities, and committing to monitoring connectivity. To maintain recovered status, commitments in ARM 12.9.1403 would remain in place after delisting.  Delisting would allow the commission to authorize hunting in a manner consistent with management objectives described in ARM 12.9.1403.  To ensure the grizzly bear would remain in recovered status with state management, the regulatory mechanisms are most effective if they indicate how the state will manage populations, including when hunting is no longer viewed to be appropriate.  The proposed amendments maintain the substance of the current rule language while confirming that hunting has been and will continue to be a source of mortality measured and considered among other mortalities in ARM 12.9.1403 as will grizzly bears translocated outside the NCDE. 

For the exact language of the rule amendment and more information see the full notice below.

 

Related Documents

 

Public Comments  

Deadline: Comments must be received no later than February 18, 2022

Mail to:

Grizzly Bear ARM
Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
P.O. Box 200701
Helena, Montana, 59620-0701

Or email: GrizzlyBearARM@mt.gov