Grizzly bear meeting set for 5 p.m. today

Another meeting is slated for 5-8:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Chelan County Public Utility District headquarters meeting room, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave., Wentachee.

The meetings are the next two in a series related to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife and National Park Service proposal to introduce grizzly bears here.

The agencies are considering a plan to take an "active" role in introducing a grizzly bear population in our area of the state.

Historical records for Okanogan County show only a handful of grizzly bear encounters ever being recorded.

Yet, the federal government wants to establish the so-called "North Cascades Recovery Zone" for grizzlies. The zone would cover Chelan, King, Kittitas, Lewis, Okanogan, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish and Whatcom counties.

Federal officials have chosen this area because government agencies control 92 percent of the land — 47 percent is in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, 28 percent is in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and 11 percent is in North Cascades National Park. At least another 6 percent is managed by the state.

Only 8 percent is under private ownership.

Federal officials have yet to define what they mean by "active." However, state law makes it illegal to bring a grizzly bear into the state and release it into the wild.

In the 48 contiguous state, grizzly bears are considered a "threatened" species, but not endangered. Grizzly populations are found in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, but there have been limited sightings of grizzlies in other states, including Washington state.

Stepping up plans to introduce grizzly bear populations in the region could have a number of side effects for rural residents and tourists.

Federal officials say people and human activities are the “primary factor” effecting grizzly bears. Bear-related regulations could hasten the closure of public forest roads, restrictions on all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles, logging and mining permits.