Fighting back against the Biden administration's attempt to introduce grizzly bears into Central Washington (again)

The debate surrounding grizzly bear introduction into the North Cascades ecosystem is far from new. For decades, Central Washingtonians have been fighting to ensure their voices are heard in opposition to this ill-conceived plan. Regrettably, last week’s announcement from the U.S. National Park Service and U.S Fish & Wildlife Service, which outlines their plan to introduce grizzly bears to the North Cascades, proves—once again—our voices are being ignored.

Last week, the Biden Administration began seeking public comment on a proposed ruled under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) concerning the potential introduction of grizzly bears. However, the draft Environmental Impact Study (EIS) was introduced concurrently with the proposed rule. This is incredibly reckless and underscores a larger concern: the Biden Administration seems to have a preconceived conclusion in mind, rendering this public comment period a mere façade.

In 1995, the Washington State Legislature declared that “grizzly bears shall not be transplanted or introduced into the state.” Despite this, the federal government has repeatedly attempted to circumvent the people of Washington’s stated wishes and introduce grizzly bears. Over the years, the people of Central Washington have voiced their concerns and opposed this action—in 2019, over 600 North Central Washington residents participated in a public comment session to speak in opposition to grizzly bear introduction—emphasizing its potential harm to our families, wildlife, and livestock. Sadly, these voices have been consistently ignored.

According to the proposed rule, grizzly bears will be airlifted from neighboring regions via helicopters and released into the North Cascades to repopulate the area. However, the potential impact on the community has not been adequately taken into account. Grizzly bears are an apex predator recognized to be over twenty times more dangerous than black bears. They possess a bite force capable of devastating a human body within seconds and are infamous for breaking into homes and inflicting fatal maulings. This concern was reaffirmed just last week when a grizzly bear, after breaking into a chicken coop north of Colville, was captured, underscoring the real and immediate risk they pose to the safety of people in the area. Not to mention, undermining the need to artificially introduce them into the region in the first place!

Since opening the public comment period on the draft EIS, over 6,200 comments were received—unfortunately, the vast majority came from outside Washington state. While it’s vital to consider all perspectives, the Biden Administration should prioritize listening to local voices rather than being swayed by unelected bureaucrats from D.C. or radical environmentalists from out-of-state who will not be affected by these dangerous creatures. It’s easy for urban-dwellers hundreds of miles away to be excited by the prospect of grizzly bear restoration, but they won’t have to grapple with the consequences of an 800-pound killing machine being introduced into their own neighborhoods.

Since being elected to Congress, I have consistently advocated on behalf of the people of Central Washington against introducing grizzly bears to our communities; however, it appears the Biden Administration is determined to push forward with this reckless proposal. Ultimately, it is Central Washingtonians who are being asked to deal with the consequences of the grizzly bear restoration, so I strongly encourage fellow residents to participate in both the virtual and in-person meetings, to ensure your voices are heard. And rest assured, I will use every means at my disposal to put a stop to this ill-advised proposal in Congress.

The public comment period on the Draft EIS runs from Sept. 28 – Nov. 13, 2023. There will be one virtual meeting for this public comment period to present information and provide opportunity for questions on Oct. 17, from 7-8:30 p.m.. There will be two in-person meetings. One on Oct. 30, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds and one on Nov. 1, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Currier Hall in Newhalem. You can find more information on how to participate in these meetings at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/MeetingNotices.cfm?projectID=112008.