| North Cascades grizzlies need your help! There are several opportunities this October to help support the grizzly recovery process. Grizzlies are an integral part of the North Cascades Ecosystem but biologists without human intervention these bears will go extinct. These majestic animals are isolated from other robust grizzly populations and are slow to reproduce. By supporting the augmentation of their population, you are ensuring these bears have a future in the North Cascades. You have the opportunity to help right the wrongs of the past and help this keystone species recover in the North Cascades. There will be a public hearing, a Winthrop event featuring filmmaker Chris Morgan as well as a petition and opportunity to comment!
1. Attend this public hearing on Oct. 7th:
Community Comment Session in Omak
When: Monday, October 7th.
Doors open: 5:00pm
Orientation: 5:00-5:30pm
Public Comment: 5:30-8:30pm
Where: Okanogan County Fairgrounds Agriplex, 175 Rodeo Trail Road, Okanogan
Carpool from Twisp: Carpools will be leaving the Methow Valley Community Center at 4pm on 10/7. Please RSVP here.
Please Note: Individuals will be allotted 2 minutes to testify on the EIS and speakers will be decided via a lottery system. Please come prepared to speak on the importance of grizzly bear recovery.
2. Get Inspired at the Winthrop Barn on Oct. 17th – free presentation:
Time for the Grizzly, Featuring Filmmaker Chris Morgan
On October 17th, a trio of grizzly bear experts is coming to the Winthrop Barn to talk about grizzly bear recovery here in Washington state. This event will feature bear expert and TV and radio host Chris Morgan, as he shares his passion for bears with spectcular photo and video footage. Following the presentation, Methow Valley Citizens Council Executive Director Jasmine Minbashian will lead a discussion with filmmaker Chris Morgan and two other grizzly bear experts: Dr. Bill Gaines of Leavenworth, and Jack Oelfke, Chief of Cultural & Natural Resources at North Cascades National Park.Featuring: Bear expert and TV/Radio host Chris Morgan, Dr. Bill Gaines of Leavenworth and Jack Oelfke, Chief of Cultural & Natural Resources at North Cascades National Park.
Location: Winthrop Barn,
Doors open at 6:30pm, program begins at 7pm.
All are welcome to this kid-friendly event. Free coffee, and snacks provided by Rocking Horse Bakery. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.
3. Sign a Local Petition:
We are urging residents and landowners in Okanogan and Chelan counties who want to see grizzly bears restored to the North Cascades to sign this petition and demonstrate local support. Representative Dan Newhouse and local county commissioners are spending a considerable amount of taxpayer dollars organizing opposition to the proposed restoration plan. Killing the North Cascades Grizzly Restoration Plan will essentially result in extinction for our few remaining local bears. It is critical that we show Representative Newhouse that he is not representing all his constituents when he opposes grizzly bear recovery. You can sign the petition by clicking here.
4. Submit a Comment Letter:
You can submit a comment on the proposed plan and Environmental Impact Statement here. Comments are due on October 24th, 2019. Of the four alternative approaches proposed for grizzly restoration outlined in the EIS, MVCC supports Alternative C – Incremental Restoration. We recognize that wildlife agencies must balance the urgency of local extinction with concerns of communities living near grizzly habitat. Under Alternative C, the National Park Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service would reintroduce 5 to 7 grizzly bears into the North Cascades each year over roughly 5 to 10 years, with a goal of establishing an initial population of 25 grizzly bears, creating a small source population to help re-establish slow reproduction over the next 100 years. This type of recovery effort was undertaken in the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem of Montana with success.
If you have questions about why grizzlies belong in the North Cascades ecosystem click here. Please also send a copy of your comments to Congressman Dan Newhouse, let him know that Methow residents respect wildlife and support restoring threatened and endangered species. |
