A consortium of conservation and hunting organizations, including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, issued caution about a California bill that would open the door to introducing grizzly bears into the state. SB 1305 established a state policy framework for doing so and directs the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to begin planning for it.
Proponents cite a feasibility “study” as a core reason to place grizzly bears in California. Yet, the first page of its documentation highlights its bias: “This study was supported and published by the California Grizzly Alliance, whose goal is to recover grizzly bears in California.”
CDFW maintains that the agency lacks funding and resources to make it happen. The state currently faces a 21-billion-dollar budget deficit.
“Reintroducing grizzly bears potentially into places where people live, recreate and raise livestock would likely necessitate further management of human-wildlife conflicts, which is already extremely challenging with the animal species that are here — notably mountain lions, wolves, black bears and coyotes,” Peter Tira, CDFW spokesman, told the Los Angeles Times.
The study suggests placing grizzlies in northern California, the same part of the state where CDFW lethally removed four problem wolves because of repeated livestock killings. Local government officials also declared a state of emergency there because of the growing wolf population and its impacts.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation expressed extreme concern by signing a letter with 18 other hunting and conservation organizations: “The return of the grizzly bear is often framed as an aspirational conservation goal rooted in California’s history and cultural symbolism. However, wildlife policy decisions of this magnitude must ultimately be guided not by symbolism or nostalgia, but by sound science, practical management considerations, and the realities faced by the communities that must live with the consequences of those decisions. When evaluated through that lens, SB 1305 raises serious concerns regarding ecological feasibility, public safety, wildlife management priorities and long-term fiscal responsibility.”
Hunt 2 Conserve opposes the legislation as it is not grounded in ecological necessity, but rather in a philosophical vision about what some believe California’s landscape should represent.
About Hunt 2 Conserve
Hunt 2 Conserve is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Its mission is to advance a legacy of hunting and conservation by educating, activating and developing stewards and defenders of these fundamentally American ideals. For more information, go to hunt2conserve.org.
(Photo credit: Jim Peaco/NPS)
