Date: April 26, 2010
Contact: Amy Vanderbilt, 406 888-5838
Contact: Wade Muehlhof, 406 888-7895
WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Officials at Glacier National Park today announced that the draft, revised Glacier National Park Bear Management Plan and Guidelines are available for a two-week public review period starting Monday, April 26 through Friday, May 7, 2010. These are the documents that provide a framework for managing black and grizzly bears throughout the park.
An annual internal review of this plan and guidelines is normally conducted each year.Several changes have been suggested for improved clarity and consistency in language and terminology; therefore, park managers are seeking public and peer review before the Bear Management Plan and Guidelines are finalized for 2010.
This expanded review was initiated partially in response to suggestions from the Board of Review (BOR) for the Oldman Lake bear removal action that occurred in August 2009. “These documents have received extensive national and international peer and public review in the past and park managers again want to provide an opportunity for public review and input,” said Park Superintendent Chas Cartwright. “The plan and guidelines describe the conditions of how the National Park Service (NPS) manages Glacier’s bear populations. These tools also reflect the best available knowledge and management techniques that bear managers can employ,” Cartwright added.
The findings from the Oldman Lake bear removal action BOR are available on the Glacier National Park web page, www.nps.gov/glacunder the Laws and Policies link.
Glacier’s Bear Management Plan and Guidelines are available online on the NPS planning website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/parkHome.cfm?parkId=61 by selecting this project. The documents highlight suggested changes so viewers won't have to compare different documents to see suggested changes. Written comments may also be submitted to: Superintendent, Glacier National Park, Attn: Bear Management Plan and Guidelines Revision, P.O. Box 128, West Glacier, Montana 59936.
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