Trying to organize my thoughts to put this blog together is not working...I have so much to say, and I've got an adorable puppy in my lap distracting me...but let's see what I can do.
For the purposes of your sanity and mine, I'm going to focus my energy on Montana Senate Bill 98, introduced by Senator Bruce "Butch" Gillespie.
Last week, I traveled to Helena to testify in support of SB 98, which basically amends MCA 87-6-106 - Lawful taking to protect livestock or person - to make it legal for producers to lethally "take" a grizzly bear that is threatening to kill livestock. Currently, the law only allows us to shoot them if they are in the act of killing livestock.
As we all know, grizzly bears are protected by the Endangered Species Act, and cannot, according to federal law, be shot by producers under any circumstances except in defense of human life. (See 4(d) Rule) This will not change until grizzlies finally graduate from their "threatened" status.
Which brings us back to SB 98, which says, "In accordance with the rights conferred on Montana citizens pursuant to Article II, sections 3 and 12, of the Montana Constitution..." we have a God given right to defend our lives and protect our property with GUNS.
Seems like common sense, right? Yet here we are - 45 years after grizzlies were first listed as threatened, STILL waiting for someone to care that our livelihoods are constantly under attack.
Opposition to this bill claims two things: 1. The populations of grizzly bears are NOT recovered in Montana, and 2. This bill will only hinder the delisting process.
Okay, let's start with #1 - most of the Senators on the Ag Committee live in areas of Montana that grizzlies do not occupy, so they don't know the facts. Defenders of Wildlife would have them believe that grizzlies cannot be delisted because the Bitterroot Ecosystem has no official grizzly population - well, that's because grizzlies clearly don't want to live there. They also claim the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem doesn't have a large enough population, but did point out that it is being augmented by grizzlies from the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem every year. Again, these two ecosystems are not far apart - they are, in fact, right next to each other. So again, if grizzlies wanted to live there, they would. But grizzlies are creatures of convenience - food is their number one driver, and food is a LOT easier to get in the NCDE than it is in the CYE or the Bitterroot. Meanwhile, those of us that live in the NCDE or the Greater Yellowstone Ecoystem are OVERRUN with grizzlies.
#2 - I understand their point - the word "threatening" is wide open to interpretation. However, most producers are responsible people that just want to live in peace and feed their livestock and be left alone. We aren't going to be out hunting grizzlies, or shooting every single bear that comes along. Those of us that ranch with grizzlies present can recognize different behaviors - both in the bears and the livestock - and we know when the predator is a threat and when it is just passing through. Most of us don't mind having grizzlies on the ranch - we just prefer grizzlies that mind their own business and don't eat our children and livestock.
I urge each and every one of you to check out all the links in this blog (sorry, there's a ton) and get to know your federal and state laws. We cannot make any headway with getting grizzly bears managed correctly if we don't know what we're up against. And please, get in touch with your Senators and Representatives and let them know what we're going through!
Here's the full text of my testimony from Jan 21 in Helena:
Here's the full text of my email to the Senate Ag Committee Jan. 26: