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For Immediate Release
Defenders Pays $3,200 for Grizzly Bear Depredations
MISSOULA, Mont. - Defenders of Wildlife today announced that it has paid $3,200 to ranchers and sheepgrowers on the Rocky Mountain Front and Blackfeet Reservation for the loss of 4 cattle and 4 sheep killed by grizzly bears since June. In late June and mid-July Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Wildlife Services officials verified the four sheep had been killed by a grizzly in the Choteau area. The sheepgrowers received $700 in compensation for their losses. In the last month one cow and two calves were verified killed, and one other calf was probably killed by grizzly bears near Choteau and on the Reservation adding up to $2,500 in losses. Defenders has paid out more than $105,000 in compensation from the Bailey Wildlife Foundation Grizzly Bear Compensation Trust since 1997.
“Although very few livestock are lost to grizzly bears, it is important to compensate ranchers quickly and fairly,” said Minette Johnson. “As grizzly bears expand their ranges outside of protected areas like national parks and forests they may come into conflict with livestock. Prompt compensation is crucial to building landowner tolerance for bear recovery." said Minette Johnson, Northern Rockies Field Representative for Defenders.
Livestock losses to grizzly bears average just 17 cattle and 18 sheep a year in Montana and Idaho compared to total death losses of 173,000 cattle and 65,000 sheep in 2003 according the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Yearly compensation payments for grizzly bear damage range from a record low of $10,679 in 2002 to a high of $18,919 in 2003, primarily because of poor natural food availability. Defenders has now paid a total of $105,467 for 143 grizzly depredation incidents since 1997. See Grizzly Compensation Trust for maps and other details on grizzly compensation.
Defenders also works to reduce the number of conflicts overall in grizzly habitat, through The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation program. This innovative approach uses cost-share agreements with private landowners and state, tribal and federal agencies to prevent problems with large carnivores. Projects include electric fencing to create secure calving grounds, sheep bedding grounds and beeyards; bear-resistant dumpsters; aversive conditioning techniques like use of Karelian bear dogs; and retirement of grazing allotments in key grizzly bear habitat. Since its creation, Defenders has provided more than $167,105 for 42 pro-active projects that directly benefit bears. For more information on The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation program visit Proactive Carnivore Conservation Fund.
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Defenders of Wildlife is one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and habitat, and was named as one of America's Top 100 Charities by Worth magazine. With more than 480,000 members and supporters, Defenders is an effective voice for wildlife and habitat. To learn more about Defenders of Wildlife, please visit www.defenders.org.
