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For Immediate Release
Grizzly Bear-Related Livestock Losses in Montana Drop By 50 Percent In 2006
Ample Natural Foods and Preventive Measures Keep Bears out of Trouble with Livestock
Missoula, MT -- The number of reported grizzly bear-related livestock depredations in Montana and Idaho dropped by 50 percent this year, according to Defenders of Wildlife. The conservation group, which has pledged to reimburse livestock owners for confirmed losses caused by grizzly bears, paid compensations for 11 cattle, one goat and 10 chickens in 2006, a notable drop from the 19 cattle, 11 sheep and 53 chickens in 2005. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 168,000 cattle and 49,000 sheep are lost to predation by wild and domestic animals every year. Grizzly bears are responsible for less than 1 percent of all livestock losses.
"Ranchers are crucial partners in the effort to conserve the grizzly bear in Montana," said Rodger Schlickeisen, President of Defenders of Wildlife. "While overall losses may be small, individual ranchers feel the sting when it's their sheep or cattle and it's important to compensate them for their losses."
Since 1997, Defenders has contributed more than $140,000 in livestock reimbursements, courtesy of The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Grizzly Bear Compensation Trust. Yearly compensation payments for grizzly bear damage average $15,000 a year, ranging from this year's record low of $9,194 to a high of $19,629 in 2003. Defenders' compensation program covers losses in Montana and Idaho only, since the state of Wyoming has their own program.
To complement the compensation trust, Defenders works to reduce the number of conflicts between humans and bears through The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation Program. This funds on-the-ground projects to prevent problems with large carnivores. Approaches include electric fencing to keep calves and lambs safe, purchasing livestock guardian dogs and retiring grazing allotments in key habitat. Defenders has invested a total of $272,367 for 77 cost-share projects that directly curtail grizzly bear and human conflicts and subsequently keep bears alive.
"Our programs are making a difference and we are committed to cooperating with private landowners and agency officials to prevent conflicts," said Minette Johnson, northern Rockies representative for Defenders in Montana. "There have been significant drops in livestock depredations as well as human-caused grizzly bear deaths in 2006, and we hope to see an even more dramatic drop next year."
Human-caused mortality accounts for the vast majority of grizzly bear deaths in the northern Rockies. In 2006 the total number of bears that died in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem was 14, down from a record high of 34 in 2004. "Because of exceptional natural food availability—like the excellent berry crop—we had very few bears getting into trouble with people, their livestock and garbage," stated Chris Servheen, grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
More information on The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation Program. Maps and other details on grizzly compensation.
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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.
