Idaho is one of the few places in the lower 48 states where grizzly bears still exist and as the largest and most fearless predator on the continent, grizzlies require special management considerations. They are also a powerful symbol of wild lands. At issue in Idaho is how to manage grizzly bears outside of designated wilderness areas in ways that reduce conflicts with humans and land-use activities. Also at issue is finding new areas for grizzlies, which the federal government feels is necessary to comply with the Endangered Species Act. Four areas across the state of Idaho are involved in the controversy.
People are quick to offer arguments for and against the continued existence of grizzlies.
Some of the discussion is based on fact, some of it on theory, and some of it on myth. This report is designed to provide the factual basis necessary for informed discussions of the respective roles of humans and grizzlies in Idaho, with the Endangered Species Act as the policy context for these issues. Specific provisions of this law must be considered as the fundamental underpinnings for debates about grizzly bear recovery in Idaho.