With the grizzly bear populations in the Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystem well on the way to recovery, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) turned its attention at its June 24 - 26 meeting to restoration of grizzly bears in the North Cascades ecosystem of Washington State and neighboring British Columbia (B.C.). This international ecosystem, centered on North Cascades National Park and the U.S. Forest Service's Pasayten Wilderness in the U.S., and Skagit and Manning Provincial Parks in Canada, boasts some of the most rugged and productive grizzly bear habitat remaining in the southern Coastal Mountains. However, like all grizzly bear ecosystems in the lower 48 states and southern B.C., some of the area potentially occupied by grizzlies is also used by people for recreational and economic purposes, adding complexity to efforts to recover this species.

Very few grizzly bears remain in the 9,500 square mile (24,605 sq km) North Cascades Recovery Zone designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the FWS determined in 1991 that up-listing from "threatened" to "endangered" is warranted for grizzlies in the North Cascades. Although a few sightings have been reported in recent years, surveys in the ecosystem in the summers of 2012 and 2013 using hair-snares and DNA analysis failed to detect any grizzly bears. A multi-agency technical team is reviewing these data to determine whether a definitive population remains south of the Canadian border.

North of the border, B.C. Ministry of Forest, Lands, and Natural Resources Operations' Large Carnivore Specialist, Dr. Tony Hamilton, estimates there are fewer than 10 grizzlies in the 3,760 square mile (9,731 sq km) North Cascades Grizzly Bear Population Unit both north and south of Highway 3. Outside of provincial parks in this area, road densities, timber harvest and other human uses of the landscape have an impact on grizzly bears and this population is considered the most threatened grizzly bear population in Canada. Bears in this part of the province are isolated from grizzlies to the north, east and west by human development, which makes international cooperation essential to restoring grizzly numbers in the trans-boundary ecosystem.

At the IGBC's summer meeting in Winthrop, WA, the IGBC discussed plans to develop an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to explore alternatives to restore grizzlies in the North Cascades. FWS grizzly bear recovery coordinator, Dr. Chris Servheen, explained that the EIS process will allow the IGBC and affected public to undertake a thorough review of the biologically feasible ways to restore bear numbers and the social and economic aspects of recovery. The EIS process could begin later this year or in early 2015 and would take between 2-3 years to complete, according to Dr. Servheen.

Okanagan County Commissioner, Ray Campbell, who spoke at the meeting, reminded the IGBC that much of the eastern portion of the ecosystem is important to the economy of the region and the needs of local residents must be factored into decisions. A comprehensive information, education and outreach strategy developed for the IGBC by the Wildlife Management Institute in 2012 identified balancing the strong support for grizzly bear restoration in the metro-Seattle area with the concerns of more rural communities on the east slope of the Cascades as a major challenge.

Among the alternatives considered in an EIS would be augmentation of existing bear numbers by relocation of grizzlies from similar habitats in B.C. Dr. Hamilton said that action to relocate bears to the Canadian portion of the ecosystem has been postponed, pending further evaluation of social tolerance for bears and the potential impact of land use and development on the viability of grizzlies on the B.C. side of the border. Dr. Hamilton pointed out that over the long term, maintaining a population in the area between Highway 3 and the international border will depend to a large degree on having a healthy population of bears in Washington.

However, restoring bear numbers in Washington through translocation of bears from Canada may be hindered by a state statute. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Regional Supervisor, Bob Everitt, who is also vice-chair of the North Cascades ecosystem subcommittee, reminded the IGBC that Washington law precludes his department from relocating bears into the North Cascades from outside the state. While that statute may not bar the FWS, NPS or other federal agencies from bringing bears from Canada into North Cascades National Park, it reflects a political reality the IGBC must address in seeking the broadest possible consensus on the right path forward. Everitt also reiterated the State's desire to see all potential recovery actions reviewed and evaluated and not just focus on augmentation.

In spite of the challenges, the members of the IGBC Executive Committee and North Cascades ecosystem subcommittee expressed optimism about moving forward. Representatives of several non-governmental organizations and a majority of the public who spoke at the meeting also voiced enthusiasm and willingness to assist with efforts to restore grizzlies to the North Cascades.