A new petition in Montana asked Fish, Wildlife and Parks to require hunters and trappers to carry bear spray in grizzly country. Organizers said they filed the proposal to improve public safety and reduce grizzly deaths across the state.
A new petition in Montana asked Fish, Wildlife and Parks to require hunters and trappers to carry bear spray in grizzly country. Organizers said they filed the proposal to improve public safety and reduce grizzly deaths across the state.
HELENA, Mont. — A new petition in Montana asked Fish, Wildlife and Parks to require hunters and trappers to carry bear spray in grizzly country.
Organizers said they filed the proposal to improve public safety and reduce grizzly deaths across the state. They also said defensive kills by hunters and trappers have increased sevenfold in recent years.
According to FWP, there has been more than 20 documented grizzly bear mortalities this year and less than 50 human interactions with grizzlies.
One supporter said the petition is also meant to push more education and awareness around using bear spray.
"We think everybody should carry bear spray and know how to use it when they're out in grizzly country, but not everybody does, and so we're really trying to up the level of discussion and education so that people are more aware and they take advantage of those training opportunities that are offered."
NonStop Local reached out to FWP to ask whether the agency had received the petition. A communication bureau chief confirmed it had and said the proposal was under legal review.
"We have received the petition. It's currently under review with our legal team… and the earliest it could be presented to the fish and wildlife commission would be at the October 15th meeting," the chief said.
Bear ecologist and consultant Mike Bader said state law gave the agency 60 days to respond to organizers. He said failing to do that would put FWP in violation of the Montana Administrative Procedure Act.
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