There is no direction to reclaim roads. In fact, the Flathead proposes to build 65 miles of roads in the next five years. Some roads are allowed in the core security areas that bears need t o survive, and by failing to take action in areas with private or corporate lands mixed in, the Flathead writes off the struggling Mission Mountains subpopulation, preventing bears from ever reaching recovery. The Flathead must completely overhaul its plan. Closures and reclamation must be accompanied by an active program of monitoring and public education.
Roads bring bears into conflict with people.
This leads to dead bears, through direct killings or forcing bears into marginal habitat. By breaking up habitat into small fragments, roads make it harder for wildland species, including elk, deer, and lynx, to survive. And by filling streams with sediment, roads harm bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. Closing and reclaiming roads will restore habitat for grizzlies and all the other species that live there. Beleaguered wildlife populations can recover, an d the ecosystem will begin to heal.