Grizzly expert gets award for recovery work

Tue., Sept. 30, 2008

Associated Press

MISSOULA – Missoula bear expert Chris Servheen has been awarded the Ernest Thompson Seton Award for his part in the Yellowstone grizzly’s removal from the endangered species list.

The award was presented in early September in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. It is named for Seton, an early conservationist, wildlife painter and a founding member of the Boy Scouts of America.

“It’s pretty special because it’s presented by the state fish and game agencies, and I’m a federal guy,” Servheen said.

Servheen teaches a class at the University of Montana and works as the national grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He is also the science and policy adviser to the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, which received an award as well.

When Servheen started working on grizzly recovery 27 years ago, there were about 200 grizzlies in Yellowstone. Today there are more than 600.

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