Become Bear Aware - Bear Awareness Week 2002

June 2 - June 8, 2002

(06/02/2002) - ASHINGTON -- Zoos, aquariums, nature centers and libraries are celebrating National Bear Awareness Week June 2-8 with activities to educate the public about the importance of bears in maintaining a healthy and balanced ecosystem.

The week of educational events -- coordinated by the conservation organization Defenders of Wildlife -- are taking place across the country.

"North America’s three bear species -- the polar bear, grizzly bear and American black bear - - are under threat, primarily due to habitat loss and poaching," said Nina Fascione of Defenders of Wildlife. The Selway-Bitterroot area of Montana and Idaho is the last, best place for recovering grizzly bears in the lower 48 states. The initiative to reintroduce them to the Bitterroot could be the most important grizzly conservation initiative of this decade.

However, Secretary of Interior Gale Norton has blocked this crucial effort. Ms. Norton rescinded plans to reintroduce threatened grizzly bears to the Bitterroot. By her action, she is throwing away more than six years of good-faith negotiations and collaboration between the conservation, timber and labor communities in Idaho and Montana and killing the best – and possibly last – chance to involve citizens and local communities in grizzly recovery in the lower 48 states. Defenders of Wildlife believes Ms. Norton’s actions are not just regrettable, but illegal.

"Bear Awareness Week is a time to recognize how vital these large mammals are to the ecosystems in which they live. We hope that through these activities, everyone will learn more about the importance of protecting biological diversity," noted Fascione.

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Defenders of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With more than 430,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on environmental issues. For timely information on environmental issues, visit www.defenders.org and subscribe to DENLines, a free e-mail alert newsletter.

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Contact(s):

Brad DeVries, (202) 772-0237
Yvonne Borresen, (202) 772-0292