CARNIVORES -- State and federal grizzly bear experts from across the Pacific Northwest are in Missoula this week to discuss ongoing efforts to remove the bears from federal Endangered Species Act protection.

The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, the multi-agency committee responsible for grizzly bear recovery in the contiguous United States and adjacent Canadian Provinces, will kick off its winter meeting today.

In addition to protection efforts, the committee will also examine reports on grizzly bear conflicts and measuring methods in that area.

Public comment is taken at the end of work sessions each day of the meeting. The public comment time is tentatively scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Jim Unsworth, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife director, will assume the committee's gavel during this meeting. Chairmanship of the IGBC is a two-year commitment that alternates between state and federal committee partners.