Would grizzly bear recovery in the Bitterroot Ecosystem affect current land-uses such as timber harvest and mining?
Reintroduction of a nonessential experimental population of grizzly bears into the Bitterroot Ecosystem is not expected to impact land uses, including timber harvest and minerals extraction activities, as long as they meet the existing standards and guidelines of the USDA Forest Service Forest Plans. Minerals extraction would likely not be altered due to grizzly bear concerns alone. Would grizzly bears in the Bitterroot Ecosystem kill livestock and how many? Livestock grazing, although presently either not occurring or at very low densities within the recovery area, is not expected to be impacted. However, within the experimental population area boundaries, grazing occurs predominantly in the southern portion of the Bitterroot Ecosystem. Consequently, at recovered grizzly population levels and current livestock stocking rates, impacts to livestock would be expected to be similar to levels occurring in portions of the NCDE and the YE. In 50-110+ years (the estimated time to recovery ass
