Griz In The Selkirks

Sun., Sept. 21, 1997

By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com (509) 459-5508

Clarification

Readers have disputed a wildlife researcher’s comment that no grizzly bears have been released in the Idaho Selkirk Mountains (Outdoors & Travel, Sept. 14).

Wayne Wakkinen agrees a footnote to his comment was needed.

One reader sent a 1983 clipping from the Bonners Ferry Herald telling of three problem bears from Yellowstone Park that had been released in the Purcell Mountains of British Columbia. The sow and two cubs quickly moved into Idaho, where they took a liking to a local resident’s apple trees.

“The bears then were trapped and released in the Hughes Meadows area of the Selkirks,” Wakkinen said. “But they almost immediately came out of the mountains and were hanging out in the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge.

“The bears were quickly trapped again and transported far north in British Columbia. They were never reported back in the United States.

“So while the bears were released in the Selkirks, they were in the mountains for only a short time.” , DataTimes

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Griz In The Selkirks

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