Park revises bear policy

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK — Glacier National Park has revised key parts of its bear management policy in the wake of a decision to remove a grizzly sow and her cubs from the Two Medicine area last summer.

The Oldman Lake grizzly, as she was called, had a history of run-ins with campers and hikers dating back to at least 2004. On several occasions over the years, either she or her cubs, entered campgrounds, rummaged through bags and sniffed tents at the Oldman Lake campground and the Morningstar Lake campground.

Glacier closed the campgrounds on several occasions and used Karelian bear dogs to "haze" off the bear as well. Those efforts didn't appear to work — at least not in the long term.

In July 2009 the grizzly and her two cubs were in camps again. At no point, according to Park reports, was the bear aggressive toward humans. But because the bear had become so accustomed to people Glacier Park staff decided to remove her and her two cubs. The plan was to tranquilize the cubs and send them to the Bronx Zoo in New York, the sow would be killed.

The decision was criticized by bear advocates, who claimed the Park should have simply closed the campgrounds as it had done in the past. But Park managers at the time felt the risk of injury was too great. And while there was no direct evidence the bear had gotten into food, it certainly appeared that way.

On July 20, for example, the bear "purposefully approached" two rangers on patrol in the Morningstar area.

On Aug. 17, the sow was shot by rangers and one of the cubs died during the tranquilizing process. The needle apparently severed the cub's jugular vein.

A board of review made up of Park rangers, Superintendent Chas Cartwright, and Park biologist John Waller examined the incident and suggested changes in protocols. Those are reflected in the new bear management plan.

The board found the Park acted appropriately in its decision to remove the bears, but there were missteps. For example, campers in the Old Man Lake campground witnessed the shooting and helicopter transport of the bears, but were never told by Park staff what was going on.

In addition, the relocation of the surviving cub was a long process. The bear didn't end up in the Bronx Zoo until several days after the event. The board also found that communication between the helicopter and staff was inadequate.

In the draft bear management document, several important changes have been made, including a change to the definition of a "conditioned bear."

The definition of a conditioned bear previously was a bear that had obtained "non-natural foods, destroyed property (and) displayed aggressive behavior toward humans."

The new definition adds "bears which repeatedly and closely approach people or repeatedly touch tents, backpacks or food storage containers in campsites."

That is the same behavior the Oldman Lake grizzly exhibited. A "conditioned bear" under the Park policy can be removed from the Park.

In addition, the bear management policy also sets stricter guidelines for food storage in campgrounds and will require campers who have an undesignated permit to carry a bear proof food container on those trips.

In addition, if bear management takes place in Glacier, the policy requires park officials to notify nearby visitors.