EDITOR’S NOTE: Never before in the modern history of Montana—a state that for years was known as one of the most foresighted states for wildlife management in the country—has a wide range of retired professionals come together to condemn the body in charge of setting hunting seasons for a species. In the statement below, more than 40 career professionals, who span the gamut of agencies, species expertise and have worked across the state, voice their disapproval of a decision to allow more killing of female black bears made by political appointees to the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission named by Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte. Members of the commission are: Patrick Tabor, Susan Kirby Brooke, KC Walsh, Brian Cebull, Lesley Robinson, and Bill Lane. Not one has any extensive professional experience in the fields of professional wildlife management based on peer-reviewed science.
Statement: “State Wildlife Commission Is Failing Wildlife”
We are 41 retired state, Federal and Tribal Montana biologists with a combined 1307 years of professional experience. Sixteen of us worked at Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP). We are extremely concerned about the Fish and Wildlife Commission’s conflicts of interest, lack of due process to involve the public in decisions, and rejection of science and facts in favor of personal opinions when developing wildlife management regulations.
At their December 2024 meeting, the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission made a last-minute amendment to eliminate the 37 percent cap for females killed during black bear seasons in Montana. They made this change with no prior notice and therefore little opportunity for public comment.
This female cap was based on earlier research by Dr. Richard Mace of FWP showing that black bear populations would decline if the female proportion in a legal harvest reached 40 percent. The cap was instituted in spring 2024 in response to the Commission lengthening the spring black bear hunting season by 2 weeks. The female harvest cap would balance the Commission’s desire to extend season length while minimizing the risk of population declines in black bears.
Montanans expect the Commission to provide for public comment on wildlife management decisions. But this policy to reduce Montana black bear numbers by eliminating the female harvest limit was not proposed prior to this meeting or subject to public input. Instead, it originated with some Commissioners who’d heard anecdotal reports from hunters about black bears, as well as unsupported assertions that black bears were depressing Montana elk and deer populations.
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This is management based on the whims of Commissioners rather than on data, analysis, and consultation with biologists on the ground. A particular irony in this case is that FWP recently initiated research to update our understanding of both black bear abundance and elk population dynamics in northwestern Montana. Rather than awaiting the results from FWP staff tasked with providing objective information, the Commission moved forward based on some anecdotes they heard and their obvious personal bias against predators.
In addition, one of the Commissioners, Pat Tabor has a family that runs an outfitting business. Commissioner Tabor has a direct conflict of interest in extending black bear season lengths and removing the female harvest cap because his family outfitting business will benefit from these changes. He should recuse himself from all Commission issues that directly affect his family outfitting business, but he refuses to do so.
Montana needs a responsive Fish and Wildlife Commission that listens to and considers all public input, not just those who dislike predators or those who can profit by commercializing wildlife. Montana needs a Commission that always bases their wildlife management decisions on science and facts and who listens to the recommendations of the wildlife professionals at FWP. Sadly, we do not have such a Commission today.
Sincerely,
Chris Servheen, Ph.D. 35 years US Fish and Wildlife Service as Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator (retired). Missoula, MT.
Chuck Schwartz, Ph.D. 36 years: 20 years, Alaska Fish and Game as Research Biologist (retired); and 16 years USGS as Leader, Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (retired). Bozeman, MT.
Richard Mace, Ph.D. 31 years Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as Research Biologist (grizzly and black bears) (retired).Primarily responsible for grizzly bear population ecology research in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. Kalispell, MT.
Mike Madel, 40 years, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in grizzly bear research and as Grizzly Bear Management Biologist (retired). Choteau, MT.
Tim Manley, B.S. 37 years Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in grizzly bear research and as Grizzly Bear Management Biologist (retired). Bigfork, MT.
Harvey Nyberg, M.S. 26 years Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, last position as Regional Supervisor (retired). Lewistown, MT.
Gayle Joslin, M.S. 32 years Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks as Wildlife Management Biologist and Research Biologist (retired). Helena, MT.
Keith Aune, M.S. 41 years: 31 years Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks as Wildlife Research Biologist, Laboratory Supervisor, Chief of Wildlife Research (retired); and 10 years as a wildlife biologist at the Wildlife Conservation Society (retired). Bozeman, MT.
Bruce Sterling, M.S. 38 years Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks as Management Biologist (retired). Thompson Falls, MT.
Diane Boyd, Ph.D. 23 years: 8 years Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as wolf and upland bird biologist (retired), 15 years University of Montana as large carnivore researcher (retired). Kalispell, MT.
Jim Vashro, M.S. 39 years. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks as Fisheries Biologist (retired). Kalispell, MT.
Richard Harris, Ph.D. 16 years. Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks and Washington Department of Wildlife as WildlifeBiologist (retired). Charlo, MT.
Kristi DuBois, M.S. 34 years: 28 years Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as wildlife biologist (both game and nongame) (retired); and 6 years US Fish and Wildlife Service as a wildlife biologist (retired). Missoula, MT.
Tim Thier, M.S. 32 years: 27 years Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as Wildlife Biologist (retired); 5 years US Fish and Wildlife Service as Wildlife Biologist (retired). Trego, MT.
Heidi B. Youmans, M.S. 27 years Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks as Area Management Biologist, Upland Game Bureau Chief, Non-Game Bureau Chief (retired). Helena, MT.
Gary Olsen, M.S. 34 years Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks as Area Biologist (retired). Conrad, MT.
Gary Wolfe, Ph.D. 42 years: 4 years as a Commissioner on the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission, 12 years Vermejo Park Ranch Wildlife Biologist/Manager and big game Hunting Outfitter and Guide; 15 years Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Wildlife Biologist/Field Director, Director of Field Operations, Chief Operating Officer, President & CEO (retired); 11 years Vital Ground Foundation, Wildlife Biologist/Executive Director (retired). Missoula, MT.
Greg Munther, M.S. 32 years US Forest Service as Biologist and District Ranger (retired). Missoula, MT.
Sterling Miller, Ph.D. 21 years Alaska Fish and Game as Wildlife Management Biologist (retired). Affiliate Professor, University of Montana. Lolo, MT.
Dan Carney, M.S. 31 years Blackfeet Tribe as Senior Wildlife Biologist (retired). East Glacier, MT.
Douglas H. Chadwick, M.S. 43 years: 3 years as wildlife technician with NPS, 40 years independent wildlife biologistcollaborating with various university and agency researchers. Whitefish, MT.
Tom Puchlerz, M.S. 38 years US Forest Service as Wildlife Biologist, District Ranger, and Forest Supervisor (retired). Stevensville, MT.
Kate Kendall, M.S. 36 years National Park Service and US Geological Survey as research ecologist (retired). Columbia Falls, MT.
Joe Fontaine, B.S. 28 years: 6 years U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Wildlife Biologist,18 years U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as Deputy Wolf Recovery Coordinator (retired), 4 years as Deputy Project Leader National Wildlife Refuge Complex (retired). Helena, MT.
Jay Gore, M.S. 30 years: 10 years US Forest Service as Wildlife Biologist (retired); 13 years US Fish and Wildlife Service as Wildlife Biologist (retired); 7 years Corps of Engineers as Wildlife Biologist (retired). Missoula MT.
Mary Maj, M.S. 32 years US Forest Service as District and Regional Wildlife Biologist, Resource Staff Officer, and District Ranger (retired). Bozeman, MT.
Dale Becker, M.S. 39 years: 7 years as a private wildlife consultant; 32 years Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes as Tribal Wildlife Program Manager. Kalispell, MT.
Edward Bangs, MS. 36 years US Fish and Wildlife Service as Wildlife Biologist on Kenai NWR and as Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery Coordinator (retired). Helena, MT.
Jim Claar, M.S. 32 years: 21 years US Forest Service as Wildlife Biologist (retired), and 11 years Bureau of Indian Affairs as Wildlife Program Manager (retired). Missoula, MT.
Jack Stanford, Ph.D. 36 years Flathead Lake Biological Station as Director (retired). Bigfork, MT.
Kerry R. Forsman, Ph.D. 37 years University of Montana as Professor of Biology and Wildlife Biology (retired). Missoula MT.
Mike Phillips, M.S. 35 years US Fish and Wildlife Service as Red Wolf Restoration Leader (retired); National Park Service as Grey Wolf Restoration Leader (retired); Turner Endangered Species Fund Executive Director; Montana State Legislator 2006-2020. Bozeman, MT.
Douglas Smith, Ph.D. 28 years National Park Service as Wolf Biologist, Yellowstone National Park (retired). Bozeman, MT.
Mike Jimenez, M.S. 20 years US Fish and Wildlife Service as Grey Wolf Research and Management Biologist (retired). Big Arm, MT.
Marion Cherry, M.S. 30 years U.S. Forest Service as Wildlife Biologist (retired) Bozeman, MT.
Bob Henderson, M.S. 30 years Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks as Management Biologist (retired). Missoula, MT
Larry Peterman, 36 years Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks as Fisheries Biologist (retired). Helena, MT.
Logan Brower, 4 years as a Commissioner on the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission (retired). Helena, MT.
Anne Vandehay, 22 years US Fish and Wildlife Service as Wildlife Biologist (retired). Helena MT.
Dale Harms, 28 years US Fish and Wildlife Service as Wildlife Biologist (retired). Helena MT.
Glenn Elison, M.S. 25 years: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as Assistant Regional Director for Refuges and Wildlife (retired). Lewistown, MT.
