Hundreds of NCW Residents Heard Loud and Clear: No Grizzly Bears in the North Cascades

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, October 7, officials from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hosted a public meeting in Okanogan, WA, to hear from local communities on the proposal to introduce grizzly bears into the North Cascades Ecosystem.

Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) has been a strong and vocal advocate for hosting an in-person public meeting to hear directly from the communities that would be affected by the introduction of grizzly bears, demanding of both Interior Secretary Bernhardt and former Secretary Zinke that local voices must be heard.

"Grizzly bears in the wild are not the cuddly creatures we see portrayed in movies or television. They are apex predators, weighing up to 850 pounds and standing up to 8 feet tall. To get an idea of the impact these powerful bears have on populated communities, all you have to do is ask the people who live in areas where grizzly bears have been introduced." – Rep. Dan Newhouse, "Local communities deserve to be heard on grizzly bear proposal" (The Ritzville Adams County Journal, October 3)

U.S. Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish & Wildlife Rob Wallace was at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds Agriplex as over 600 North Central Washington residents were chosen, by lottery, to provide up to two minutes of oral comment on the record. As reported by Capital Press, 50 people spoke in opposition to grizzly bear introduction, and 12 people spoke in support.

What They Are Saying

BIG CROWD TURNS OUT TO OBJECT TO PUTTING GRIZZLY BEARS IN NORTH CASCADES
(October 8, 2019)

"Newhouse has come out in opposition to the plans to move up to 25 bears from Montana and British Columbia into the North Cascades in the next 10 years. Commissioners in Chelan and Okanogan Counties have expressed concerns over possible conflicts between bears and tourists."

OKANOGAN RESIDENTS SAY ‘NO' TO GRIZZLIES
(October 8, 2019)

"Approximately 600 people, mostly Okanogan County residents were loud and clear. They don't want grizzly bears in Washington's North Cascades…Speakers opposed to grizzlies talked about the threat to ranchers, orchardists, hikers, back country outfitters, tourism, cattle, sheep and how it violates a state law prohibiting grizzly importation."

GRIZZLY PROPOSAL BRINGS OUT HUNDREDS OPPOSED (AND SOME IN FAVOR) IN NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON
(October 8, 2019)

"'I think you all know where I stand on this issue,' Newhouse told the crowd. ‘I don't think the science supports it. I think it's against state law. I don't think the local communities want it.' To that, people in the crowd cheered. For three hours after that, 62 people spoke about why they did or did not want grizzly bears in the North Cascades…Most in the room said they did not want more ‘apex predators' in their backyard."