Recently, the Teton Farm Bureau and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) held a town hall meeting at the Choteau Country Club. The event focused on the increasing number of grizzly bears along the Rocky Mountain Front, which has become a significant concern for local landowners.
Montana FWP Director Christy Clark addressed questions from the community and provided insights on potential changes related to a draft rule from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) regarding grizzly bear management. The proposed rule aims to give Montana greater flexibility in managing its grizzly bear population.
Landowners expressed their frustrations during the meeting, emphasizing that federal agencies often fail to understand the challenges faced by communities living in grizzly bear territory.
The proposed USFWS rule distinguishes between two Montana recovery zones that have not met population objectives—the Bitterroot and Cabinet/Yaak zones—and those that have, which include the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE).
A key component of the proposal is Montana’s statewide grizzly bear management plan, completed in 2023, alongside conservation strategies for the NCDE and GYE. Under this proposed rule, Montana would gain management authority over grizzly bears in these two ecosystems, provided the state adheres to the population objectives and mortality thresholds outlined in the management plan. This would allow for more responsive measures to address conflicts involving bears, particularly concerning livestock.
In contrast, grizzly bear management in the Bitterroot and Cabinet/Yaak ecosystems would largely remain unchanged. However, the proposed rule does introduce provisions for incidental take due to regulated trapping, marking a departure from current regulations that aim to prevent incidental take in grizzly bear habitats.
“Our members have lived with grizzly bears for generations and have experienced firsthand the challenges that come from too many bears on the landscape,” said Cody Shick, Teton Farm Bureau President. “What we heard tonight were not only the hard questions, but that now is the time to share our stories and our voice. We need farmers and ranchers to comment on this proposed rule and tell the Fish and Wildlife Service exactly what it’s like raising a family in grizzly bear country.”
The public comment period runs through Aug. 17.
By Karen Anderson: July 20, 2026 – Choteau, Mt
