HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-05-18 Public Comment - M. Dipman (on behalf of the Natural Resource Development Council, NRDC) - Strategic Plan NRDC
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By electronic submission
April 5, 2018
Bozeman City Commission
121 North Rouse Avenue
Bozeman, MT 59715
agenda(a)bozeman.net
Re: Bozeman Strategic Plan
Dear Bozeman City Commission:
On behalf of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and our Bozeman members, we
appreciate the opportunity to submit the following comments regarding the proposed Bozeman
Strategic Plan. NRDC is committed to protecting the planet's wildlife and wild spaces and to
ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all living things. An important focus of our
Bozeman office is to work proactively to reduce human-carnivore conflicts in the Rocky
Mountain West.'
Section 6(A Sustainable Environment) of the proposed strategic plan includes many important
recommendations for how to "cultivate a strong environmental ethic"by protecting"clean air,
water, open spaces and climate." However, it does not address how the city plans to deal with
interactions between humans and wildlife. One component of cultivating a strong environmental
ethic is promoting coexistence between humans and wildlife through non-lethal, proactive
measures.
Therefore, we propose the following addition to the strategic plan:
6.6 Reduce human-wildlife conflicts—Develop a plan to mitigate conflicts between
humans and wildlife.
Part of Bozeman's appeal is its proximity to wilderness and wildlife, but this can lead to human-
wildlife clashes—particularly when our wild neighbors wander into city limits. For example,
Bozeman residents already experience the effects of living with black bears, which are attracted
to non-natural food sources like garbage,bird feeders, pet food, chickens, and apiaries.
According to the Gallatin Valley Beekeepers Association, six bee yards were damaged by black
bears within city limits just last year.
Further, it is only a matter of time before grizzly bears begin to affect people in the Bozeman
area as well. Grizzly bear range in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is expanding steadily, and
' To learn more about our conflict prevention work,please see,for example, https://www.nrdc.org/experts/zack-
strong/progress-thro ugh-un I i kel v-partnersh ip-wi ldl i fe-services.
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Bozeman is currently at the northern edge of grizzly bear territory.' As Bozeman's population
continues to grow and grizzly bear range expands, the potential for in-town encounters between
humans and wildlife like bears will continue to increase.
We feel reducing human-wildlife conflicts!---both to protect human health, safety, and property
and to maintain healthy wildlife populations—represents a critical part of the Bozeman
environmental ethic. A commitment to proactively address and mitigate potential run-ins with
wildlife is a necessary addition to our city's strategic plan. We would welcome an opportunity to
work with the Commission and our many conservation colleagues in the Bozeman community to
develop a conflict prevention plan.
Thank you for considering our comments. We look forward to discussing these ideas further.
Sincerely,
Madison Dipman, Wildlife and Energy Intern
Zack Strong, Staff Attorney
Natural Resources Defense Council
317 E. Mendenhall St., Suites D and E
Bozeman, MT 59715
406-556-9302
mdipman(c)nrdc.org
zstrong(&nrdc.org
Please see www usps pov/media/imayes/animated-image-showinggrizzly-bear-rany-e-expansion-gye-1990-2016.
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