IGBC Meets Wednesday & Thursday

Now that the Greater Yellowstone grizzly bears have been placed back under the protection of the Endangered Species Act, what direction will future management of the bear take?  That is now one of the topics that will certainly emerge as the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee conducts its annual winter meeting in Missoula, Montana beginning tomorrow (Wednesday).  However, Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator Chris Servheen says since the court ruling is so recent, it is not likely much can be worked out on the matter yet. The meeting is open to the public with a public comment period provided at the end of each day of the two-day meeting.  The IGBC consists of representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Geological Survey and representatives of the state wildlife agencies of Idaho, Montana, Washington and Wyoming. In the interest of international coordination and cooperation, the Canadian Wildlife Service is also represented.