Subdivisions and grizzly bears: a matter of jurisdiction

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

Source:

Western Wildlands, Montana Forest and Conservation Experiment Station, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Volume 10, Issue 2, p.24-27 (1984)

Call Number:

A84JON02IDUS

Keywords:

Ursus arctos horribilis

Abstract:

The grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) of northwestern Montana, adjacent British Columbia and associated areas, are found on lands under a maze of jurisdictions – federal, state, provincial (Crown), local (county and others), tribal, corporate and private. The quality of wildlife management on these lands varies widely among the jurisdictions. This is particularly detrimental to a large, widely ranging species such as the grizzly bear because of the inevitable contacts between bears and a variety of people and activities and because of different and uncoordinated management efforts. Multiple ownerships create jurisdictional problems for bear management. The separation of wildlife management from habitat management further complicates the issue. This problem is more serious in the U.S. than in Canada. The various land management agencies operate with different and sometimes opposing objectives and regulations, often without regard to the species' habitat needs, resulting in inadequate data and land use coordination. Jurisdictions too often are managed as "islands," and the boundaries make no ecological sense. The development of subdivisions, for example, is done without adequate consideration of wildlife values and with little coordination among jurisdictions. The "subdivision syndrome" brings together wild, "non-park" bears and people who are unfamiliar with the habits and needs of these free-ranging grizzlies. Ranchers, loggers, packers and forest workers all learn a certain amount about dealing with and living with grizzlies while developing their lands, and the bears in turn become accustomed to human routines. Subdivision developments, in contrast, expose an almost endless stream of seasonal and inexperienced people (and their property) to the bears. The bears' previous contacts with people tend to make them shy, but they rapidly recognize people with careless habits. Grizzlies are opportunists and will aggressively exploit new situations. In addition, young bears that have been crowded out of prime bear range into marginal habitats (often near subdivisions) are insecure and unpredictable or are "experimenting" with finding food near people.