Mixed feelings over plans to restore grizzly bears to North Cascades

“National Geographic” calls grizzlies the world’s deadliest bears.

Weighing in at 400 to 800 pounds on average, sporting two to four-inch claws, and clocking in at speeds of more than 30 miles an hour, it’s hard to argue with that classification.

But the last grizzly bear was shot in the North Cascades in the 1960s and since then, word of their appearance in Washington state has just been a rumor.

Now plans are being developed to restore the grizzly to the Cascades and Ann Froschauer with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it’s not just about helping the massive mammals.

“An environment that’s healthy enough to support a grizzly bear population means that it’s also healthy enough to support a lot of wildlife &#8212 and also clean air and clean water &#8212 which we all depend on,” Froschauer said.

One plan is to do nothing and let the bears come back on their own. Some say that’s a possibility since some bears on the Canadian side of the Cascades have been spotted wandering back and forth across the border.

Another option would be to import grizzlies. But the federal government received numerous complaints when that proposal was introduced.

For example, a letter from Carlton, Washington:

“This recent push to bring grizzly bears into north central and north east Washington is insane! We didn’t want wolves – we got wolves and all the associated problems.”

Another, from Darrington:

“The people of the metropolitan areas of the state are generally naive about the real dangers of predators. People believe in the propaganda that has been distributed by Fish and Wildlife and special interest groups. In my opinion if the city dwellers want wolves and grizzlies put them in the city as those areas were once forests.”

Even some state lawmakers criticized any plan to bring grizzlies in because so-called bear “trans-location” is against state law.

One supporter simply said: “A grizzly bear or two is the simplest and best solution to crowd control in a Wilderness. Think about it.”

Froschauer says there are many misconceptions about grizzlies. Some people think they’re naturally aggressive towards humans, but the bears are actually relatively shy and solitary. They’re also less intrusive than wolves and don’t populate as quickly.

Whatever plan the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service chooses, it will take time to put into place.

“We’re not trucking in 300 grizzlies and dropping them off in Sedro-Woolley tomorrow or anything,” Froschauer said.

Even if a plan were chosen to bring bears to Washington, it would still take years for the population to grow.

By next summer, the drafted plans should be released, with another chance for public comment. It will include a variety of options, including a “no-action” plan. A final decision is expected by 2017.