BOZEMAN, Mont. — People in Bozeman shared strong views after the grizzly management announcement, with many saying they supported returning management to the states.
Earlier this week, Governor Greg Gianforte, along with the Idaho and Wyoming governors and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, announced a plan to change rules and return management of grizzlies back over the lower 48 states.
Much of the reaction so far has been in favor of the proposed change.
Two people in Bozeman who work in outfitting and guiding said local oversight mattered because conditions vary from place to place.
“The state needs to be the one managing it anyway, just like they did with wolves or any other large carnivore, because all these populations are different. Whether you're in the Cabinet-Yaak in Idaho, the Selway in Idaho or down in the Tetons in Wyoming, every place is different and one governing body of that just can't manage it properly,” said Cade McParland,
McParland and Hamburg explained that managers on the ground understand how people and grizzlies interact in Montana.
“For generations, these grizzly bears have not seen humans as a threat, and they belong on the landscape. They definitely are a predator and belong here, but need to be managed and see humans not as just something walking on the trail,” Hamburg said.
Bozeman resident David Miller also backed local control.
“The parks, the rec, all those people, the game wardens, all those should be the ones making decisions because they're on the ground. They see what's going on," he said. "We control deer populations. We control fish populations. But it's done at a local level. And I think this should be done at a local level also,” Miller said.
On Facebook, the response leaned heavily toward state management.
"The management of grizzlies should be in the control of the people that live with them, not the federal government," wrote Linda Reeves.
Absolutely federal. We don’t need a patchwork of regulations. It creates confusion," wrote Cory Simenson.
The change remains in the proposal stage and includes a 30-day comment period. More information about that process is available here.