Finding adequate funding to protect Grizzly Bears and People in the Greater Yellowstone--As Louisa Wilcox at NRDC reiterates constantly, Bears are ranging farther and farther afield to find food as climate change has adversely impacted whitebark pine seed availability...........More chances to encounter people along the way.........

Tragic human death by a grizzly, and the need for more resources to avoid conflicts

The tragic death of a hiker in Yellowstone Park is a chilling reminder of the need for people who hike in grizzly country to be prepared -- and to expect surprises. Yellowstone Park has long been the gold standard for quality bear education, with some of the most rigorous requirements for food storage and camper behavior anywhere in bear country. Yet, even here, accidents do happen, and not everyone comes prepared for a close-up bear encounter.  Yellowstone is a big wild place where nature still rules supreme. People who venture into its backcountry must be prepared for the risks inherent in visiting one of the wildest places left in the lower 48 states.

This case involved a concatenation of unfortunate circumstances:  a couple came upon a female grizzly with two cubs, which charged them to protect her young. The man, Brian Matayoshi and his wife, Marylyn, were not carrying bear pepper spray, which is a proven bear deterrent in close encounter situations such as this one. And, the couple chose to run away, which is never a good idea in such situations.  Mr. Matayoshi did not survive, although his wife did after lying down and playing dead.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of the deceased, and all those affected by this tragedy. In my own case, I have had a few bear encounters where, but for some kind of grace, I would not still be whole. In wilderness, disaster can strike even if you are ready for the worst-case scenario.   

Are there any lessons that can we take away from this terrible event? First, it goes without saying that you can never be too prepared for a bear encounter. And, all agencies that have jurisdiction over grizzlies and the public have to be eternally vigilant and creative in trying to educate the public about how to safely recreate in bear country. This is tough, challenging work, especially in popular areas such as Yellowstone, which receives over 3 million visitors each year.

Effective outreach to the public on how to live and recreate in bear country is also expensive, and relies on dedicated staff at state and federal agencies. Fortunately, we have in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem some of the best in the business. But bears are now dispersing more widely across the region in search of food, in response to the climate-driven loss of traditionally important foods such as whitebark pine nuts. This means that more resources will be needed to make sure that bears are not habituated to human foods, and in the process more prone to conflict with humans.   It means too that people and communities on the periphery of the ecosystem will need to be more prepared for bear encounters.

In an article in yesterday's Jackson Hole News and Guide, Mark Bruscino of Wyoming Game and Fish Department said that more resources will be required to collect information on the population and to manage bears. I agree, although I would add that the most important and expensive challenge is proactive education of and assistance to people who live and recreate in bear country.  The ultimate goal is peaceful coexistence of people and grizzlies.

Much of the recent debate about Yellowstone grizzly bears has been about whether or not they should be protected under the Endangered Species Act.  This has obscured a central question: are existing resources and efforts adequate to ensure that people and communities in the region are prepared to live with grizzly bears? If not, what can we do about it?   

Certainly, more resources come with Endangered Species Act protections, which can help support efforts to prevent and constructively manage conflicts. But in these fiscally tight times, all agencies are strapped – at a time when bears are dispersing more widely to cope with a changing world, and in the process creating new challenges. It is time to come up with new and creative mechanisms to fund conflict prevention efforts. No matter where one stands on the Yellowstone grizzly bear delisting issue, this is something that we should all be able to agree on.