WDFW statement
Today, we received notice that the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are requesting public comment on a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that considers alternatives for grizzly bear restoration in the North Cascades Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone, including North Cascades National Park, and a proposed rule to designate an experimental population (10(j) rule).
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is working with these federal partners in the EIS process. WDFW contributed technical assistance and local expertise while helping develop the draft EIS, including the alternatives considered.
“We are committed to grizzly bear recovery in Washington and will engage with the federal agencies as required by law,” said Eric Gardner, WDFW Wildlife Program Director. “WDFW has been an active participant in the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, working alongside other western states for the conservation and management of the species. The addition of the proposed 10(j) rule would allow for more management flexibility in Washington and increased collaboration with our federal partners.”
If a restoration alternative is selected through the EIS, WDFW anticipates that the presence of grizzly bears in the North Cascades would require WDFW to respond to human-grizzly bear conflicts that may arise, as well as supporting scientific monitoring and outreach to local communities and recreationists.
WDFW has also been working on outreach and education, sanitation efforts, monitoring populations, and other recovery implementation activities for decades, including efforts to reduce negative human-grizzly bear interactions.
Under a Washington state law (RCW 77.12.035), WDFW may not transplant or introduce grizzly bears into the state and may only use bears native to the state for management programs. In addition, WDFW must engage in all discussions with federal and state agencies relating to grizzly bear management.
WDFW continues to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to manage the grizzly bear population in northeast Washington’s Selkirk Mountains and continue efforts to recover the species as outlined in federal recovery plans.
Media contact: Sam Montgomery