Groups says new Montana forest plan could harm bears

MISSOULA, Mont. – Two conservation groups say the Flathead National Forest’s new management plan will allow new road building that could harm threatened species like grizzly bears.

The Missoulian reports that Swan View Coalition and Friends of the Wild Swan filed a 60-day notice on Friday that they intend to sue the U.S. Forest Service over the plan.

The update to the 2,000-page Flathead Forest Plan was approved during the partial government shutdown and took effect at the end of January.

Forest supervisor Chip Weber says the grizzly bear management standards included in the plan will adequately take care of the bears while allowing for other forest uses.

Weber says the grizzly population is flourishing and the plan is meant to keep the conditions currently on the ground in place.

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Information from: Missoulian, http://www.missoulian.com