Montana officials announce grizzly relocations

(The Center Square) – Montana is ready to manage the grizzly bear. That is the message from state leaders following the latest milestone involving the animal.

Last week, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte and Wyoming Mark Gordon announced two grizzly bears successfully "translocated" from the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem in Montana to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in Wyoming.

"Working with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and many Montanans over decades, we've been successful in recovering grizzly populations in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem," Gov. Gianforte said Monday at a press conference in Helena. "Montana has made genetic connectivity between ecosystems a priority and I'm proud to report today that now we've acted on it."

Translocation is defined as the act, process, or an instance of changing location or position. Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho have agreed to work together and "ensure the long-term genetic diversity of the Greater Yellowstone's grizzly bear population and secure a genetic connection between the two areas" and the bears' recovered populations.

"This translocation ensures robust genetic health for the previously isolated Yellowstone population," said Temple. "We've added certainty to the recovered status of this population and identified that yet another piece is in place to ensure that Montana is ready and able to manage grizzly bears."

Also appearing at Monday's press conference was Blake Henning, chief conservation officer for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, who called this "further proof that our state wildlife agencies are responsible wildlife stewards." Henning commends them for these and related efforts.

"The use of translocation for wildlife is a common and well-accepted practice to enhance genetic diversity, augment populations when needed, and ensure that our efforts to get grizzly bears returned to state management continue to be fruitful," added Montana Conservation Society Executive Director Rob Arnaud. "Governor Gianforte and Fish, Wildlife and Parks leadership continue to strengthen our ability to manage these iconic animals and help those of us who live with them, deal with their close proximity."

Gov. Gianforte asked the federal government in 2021 to delist the grizzly bear in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services accepted the request in 2023. Fish and Wildlife has since announced intentions to revisit the listing by January 2025.