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Done deal - Grizzly bears to be reintroduced to the North Cascades
By Erin Wencl,
13 days ago
WASHINGTON - The National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced Thursday to reintroduce grizzly bears to the North Cascades.
It's a decision that was being worked on since 2022. Grizzlies used to plentiful in the region but officials say due to human hunting, those populations declined significantly. There hasn't been a recorded sighting of a grizzly there since the late 1990s.
"These bears have the ability to migrate within a 500 mile radius and so by placing them up in the north central part of the state, they could easily end up in Kittitas or even Yakima County," said Rep. Newhouse. Others who were against the proposal said they were not only concerned about safety, they were worried about the threat to livestock populations.
However, supporters of the plan say only a small number of grizzlies will be introduced in remote areas of the North Cascades and if they did end up in populated areas, federal officials said they would be relocated under the bear management plan.
In a statement released to media outlets, Rep. Newhouse responded to the Record of Decision on bringing the grizzlies back.
"The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision regarding the North Cascades grizzly restoration plan is outrageous, yet consistent based on the recent actions of this administration," Rep. Newhouse said. "This administration is once again disregarding local public opinion and instead catering to the whims of coastal elites and the out-of-touch environmentalist lobby."
The North Cascades Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan/Environmental Impact Statement was first proposed by the Obama Administration. The preferred goal is to move three to seven grizzly bears per year to the North Cascades Ecosystem for five to 10 years to establish a population of at least 25 total bears, according to Rep. Newhouse's office.
To read the full text of the decision, click here .
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WASHINGTON - In October, Apple Valley News Now's Emily Goodell spoke with Congressman Dan Newhouse about a meeting in Okanogan County that discussed the proposed plan to bring grizzly bears back to the North Cascades. Newhouse reiterated his opposition to the plan and said most people in Washington State opposed it too.
WASHINGTON - Grizzly bears are on the endangered species list and the National Park Service and U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife have spent years pushing forward a plan to revamp the dwindling population in the North Cascades.
Grizzly Bear
Washington state is home to North Cascades National Park, established in 1968. It's home to the North Cascade Range, over 300 beautiful glaciers and lakes, waterfalls, and deep valleys. Careful: grizzly bears also call this land home .
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