Grizzly Bear Update Pt 1

Grizzly Bear Update Pt 1

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
I'm Bob Larson. Efforts to bring the Grizzly Bear back to the North Cascades have been put on hold, but exactly why remains in question.

Initial reports said Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke issued a stop-work order, but a spokesman for the department denies that happened.

The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been working on options to restore the Grizzlies, but many wondered if it was a bad idea much like the repopulation of gray wolves ...

DAN NEWHOUSE ... "My concern is that we are headed down a very similar path with the grizzly bear if we don't take into consideration those people that have to deal with this on a regular basis. And, I just don't think the federal government should make the same mistake again and put these people in a position that is untenable and will have to be dealing with for years to come in ways that are very difficult."

Representative Dan Newhouse says he's pleased the feedback may have made an impression ...

DAN NEWHOUSE ... "My opinion was that the federal agencies needed to listen mostly to the people in the local areas that would be impacted by the reintroduction of the grizzly, or any other species, so I'm very pleased that that's exactly what happened that they're scaling back or backing off their plans for reintroduction."

A government employee who's worked on the project told the Methow Valley News consultants hired to assist with the final Environmental Impact Statement tell him they were told to stop work on the study several months ago. No other details were available.

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