Safety Valve | Grizzly bear restoration project sparks safety concerns | Safety Valve: Letters from readers | wenatcheeworld.com

Grizzly bear populations in the North Cascades have declined from hundreds to just a handful, according to ecologist Chris Morgan. State plans to reintroduce them has caused concerns for safety.

On Sept. 17 and 20, I attended presentations on reintroducing grizzly bears into the North Cascades. The meetings were hosted by Chelan County Commissioners Kevin Overbay and Shon Smith and included speakers from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Parks Service and others who had knowledge and experience with grizzly bears.

The presentations included: A grizzly bear’s diet, habits, behaviors, and contributions to the ecosystem and an outline of the reintroduction plan. As per the plan, three to seven grizzly bears would be trapped each year in the Yellowstone area, checked for health, fitted with tracking collars and then transported to the North Cascades in Washington State until a population of 25 grizzly bears is reached.

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