Was it necessary?

I was extremely upset, even angry, when I learned the sow grizzly bear that had three cubs roaming around the Swan Valley, had been captured and killed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks personnel. These four bears provided the utmost joy, excitement and photographic opportunities for the people of the Swan Valley. The sow and two of the cubs were captured. The two cubs were given to the zoo in Gardner and the sow was killed. The third cub escaped capture and was left to whatever future a young cub has in the wild without its mother's protection.

FWP officials followed the procedure that is established for determining when a grizzly bear is to be removed. I would like for that procedure and guidelines to be re-examined and modified. As far as I have been able to determine, the sow was never aggressive toward people. Yes, the sow was "aggressive" in obtaining food from human sources by raiding yards and outbuildings that contained anything the bears could eat. I believe that is normal bear behavior.

Please do not believe that I am a non-hunter who believes animals have rights on par with humans. I do not. I am a hard-core hunter who moved to the Swan Valley in order to be a "full time hunter." But I also believe the Swan Valley is a priceless piece of real estate that cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the entire lower forty eight states and that the grizzly bears were here first and deserve more respect than they are given.

I totally believe that people who live in the Swan Valley MUST recognize they live in the same location that grizzly bears live and inherent in living in the Swan Valley we accept the risk presented by the grizzly bears. The bears are so valuable that one should not be captured and killed until it has become an absolute hazard to people and no other reasonable options exist. Raiding outbuildings, in my opinion, does not justify the killing of any grizzly, much less a sow with three cubs.

It is very rare for a sow bear to have three cubs. That alone made this bear special to the Swan Valley and to every wildlife observer and admirer nationwide.

If the people, who live in or visit the Swan Valley, Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks and any other place grizzly bears are known to live, are informed of the risk associated with being in these places, then they accept that risk by being in those places. With this acceptance, the number of these bears captured and killed by FWP should diminish significantly.

People of every persuasion participate in dangerous activities and accept the risk that goes with that activity. Everything from skydiving, riding a motorcycle or riding a bicycle down Highway 83 with tractor trailers and RV's the size of a Greyhound bus to bungee jumping is done by people who accept the risk. People living in the Swan Valley should be held to the same standard; ie, accepting the risk that is presented by the presence of grizzly bears. If you don't want to accept that risk, then go somewhere else to live or to recreate!

Killing this bear and taking her cubs out of the Swan Valley was not necessary. The Swan Valley is a "lesser" place now with these bears gone. That is a shame.

Philip is a retired Air Force officer where he was an intelligence analyst. He is also a retired law enforcement officer. He has an undergrad degree in criminal justice as well as a master's that is heavily weighted in criminal justice. He has had, in his words, "a love affair" with firearms all his adult life. He also teaches concealed carry classes. Contact him at philipgintheswan@gmail.com