FW: Help Prevent Another Yellowstone Tragedy

If you are unable to view the message below, please go to http://actnow.greateryellowstone.org/site/MessageViewer/. Rick-- Tragedy struck two weeks ago when a man hiking on the Shoshone National Forest just east of Yellowstone National Park was killed by a four-year-old male grizzly bear. Also tragic is the fact that the bear was the target of an important federal research project, and was believed to have just awoken after being tranquilized and collared. The federal research team is trying to help grizzlies have a sustainable future in Greater Yellowstone by capturing and radio-collaring bears to better understand their habits, range, and behavior. This collared bear, set to provide information on how better to manage grizzly bears, was killed two days later by a sharpshooter firing from a helicopter.  Law enforcement and federal managers had determined that it might be a threat to nearby residents or people hiking on the national forest or in Yellowstone National Park. Donate today in support of better grizzly bear management in Greater Yellowstone. Image courtesy of Cindy Goeddel. Although this is a very rare event – it has been 25 years since someone was killed in Greater Yellowstone by a grizzly – it is still a tragic story, and one that should have been avoided.  Our heavy hearts go out to the family of the victim, who had lived safely in bear country for more than 30 years. Today, our curious minds ask the question: “Can this horrible situation be avoided in the future?” We think it can, and you can help by supporting Greater Yellowstone Coalition’s grizzly bear program. Humans need to respect the grizzly bear’s need to roam freely, and therefore we must carefully evaluate how to best get the information we need to make informed decisions about bear/human management.  In Greater Yellowstone, roughly 80 bears are radio-collared each year for research purposes.  Are there now other less intrusive ways to obtain information on their numbers, range, and habits? In close encounters with humans, when bears make physical contact, bears almost always die because of people's fears that other incidents might occur. Please, donate today – and help eliminate future tragedies like this one. Your donation right now will help: educate the public about the use of bear spray, a proven deterrent for use in bear country; evaluate the types and frequency of research done and how to minimize the negative effects of research on bears; and ensure habitat protection for grizzlies – nearly 98% of its original habitat has been lost to development. As citizens and wildlife advocates, we understand the balance needed to protect humans who might be hiking in bear country, while supporting the research needed to better protect grizzlies into the future.  Our ultimate goal is to eliminate tragedies like this one.  Please, consider a gift to GYC today. Sincerely, Mike Clark Executive Director P.S.  Do your part.  Give today in support of grizzly bears and help seek a way to better manage and conduct research safely in Greater Yellowstone. P.O. Box 1874 • 13 S. Willson, Suite 2 Bozeman, MT 59771 • (406) 586-1593 • (800) 775-1834 www.greateryellowstone.org | tell a friend | unsubscribe