Some Grizzly Supporters Can Remain Anonymous

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has agreed to release the names and addresses of more than 24,000 people who commented on the proposed reintroduction of grizzly bears to central Idaho’s Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.

But 178 living in small Idaho and Montana towns will remain anonymous because the agency believes they need protection because of their pro-bear comments.

The release settles a Freedom of Information Act claim by the Alliance for the Wild Rockies. Executive Director Mike Bader said the alliance still believes all identities should be released but conceded that some small-town residents have been harassed for favoring reintroduction.

The federal plan has been fiercely opposed by many residents, as well as nearly all state officials in Idaho.

“There is an element out there that is really boisterous,” Bader said. “But we still want to see our process of democracy upheld.’

He argued that the public needs to see the full record of comments to know whether the government gave more weight to those from scientists than from lay people, from Bitterroot Valley residents than from outsiders, and whether multiple comments from one person were characterized as a single comment or as several.