Research that Task Force Funded is Published in Science Journal

New peer-reviewed research funded by the Flathead-Lolo-Bitterroot Citizen Task Force reveals the critical role of wildlife connectivity and secure habitat in restoring grizzly bears across the Northern Rockies.

Published in the peer-reviewed journal Northwestern Naturalist, the study analyzed 362 verified grizzly bear den sites to identify more than 21,000 square kilometers (over 8,100 square miles) of suitable denning habitat across northern Idaho and western Montana. The research demonstrates that the Northern Rockies contain the habitat needed to reconnect isolated grizzly bear populations and support natural recovery into the Bitterroot Ecosystem. These findings provide strong scientific support for protecting wildlife corridors, expanding secure habitat, and ensuring a connected future for grizzly bears in the lower 48 states.

Download the Press Release (PDF)
Download the Northwest Naturalist (PDF)

A New Vision for Grizzly Bear Recovery in the Northern Rocky Mountains