
Biologists estimated that in the North Cascades there are less than 5 grizzly bears left.
Are grizzly bears the best neighbors? This is the new debate in the North Cascades. The reintroduction of Grizzly bears to Washington is the most debated argument. This new plan could raise even more concern to those who disagree with the reintroduction of these animals.
The first meeting where this subject was put up for discussion gathered more than 100 people. This public meeting was held in Cle Elum. This gathering was made in order for people to give their opinion about the reintroduction of grizzly bears.
This was the first meeting but there will be at least seven before it is decided if these bears are really going to come back to the North Cascades. The federal government proposed many options that can help recover the bears. These plans can take up to 10 years in order to reach a 200 bear population.
Employees from the US Fish and Wildlife Service were the ones that give more information to those who were interested in the recovery of the grizzly bears. The employees mentioned that this was an interesting experience because they were able to give more information to those who did not know much about the plans or were not sure if it is the best idea.
If the decision is made the grizzly bears are going to be brought from Western Montana or Canada. The problem is that many people fear that they won’t be able to hunt or hike anymore. Others mentioned that they fear for the livestock losses.
Some people mentioned that there are a lot of dangerous predators in the area including wolves, bobcats, and cougars. This is why many people don’t want to bring the grizzly bears back in this region. They are scared that there will be too many dangerous animals near their homes.
Despite the fact that some people are concerned, others believe that it is a great idea. Biologists estimated that in the North Cascades there are less than 5 grizzly bears. This is the main reason for which the federal government wants to help the bear recover. The federal government wants to stop the extinction of grizzly bears in the North Cascades.
Do you think that it is a good idea to bring back these bears in the North Cascades?
Image source: Flickr