The united states fish and wildlife service (service) grizzly bear recovery program has been CO located at the university of montana (UM) since 1981

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) awarded the University of Montana a Cooperative Agreement valued at $295,733 under the Endangered Species Recovery Implementation program (CFDA 15.657), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030. This agreement supports the continuation of the Grizzly Bear Recovery Program, which has been co-located at the University of Montana since 1981. The University delivers comprehensive recovery implementation services including grizzly bear research, management, monitoring, and surveys across six recovery zones spanning Montana, Washington, Wyoming, and Idaho. Specific project activities encompass monitoring of grizzly bears in the Cabinet-Yaak and Selkirk ecosystems, evaluation of DNA collection methods at bear rub trees and corrals for population estimation, support of the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem trend monitoring project, human-bear conflict prevention initiatives, and public outreach and education programs.

This cooperative agreement enhances the USFWS's ability to fulfill its statutory obligations under the Endangered Species Act by leveraging the University's research capacity and expertise to improve coordination and information sharing among private landowners, the general public, federal and state agencies, and tribal entities. The University is required to provide annual reports documenting project activities and outcomes. The agreement represents a critical federal investment in grizzly bear conservation, combining scientific research and monitoring with stakeholder engagement to advance species recovery across multiple ecosystem management zones in the Northern Rocky Mountain region.

This cooperative agreement between the service and the UM will assist the service in carrying out its statutory duties under the endangered species act by implementing recovery actions including facilitating grizzly bear research * management * monitoring * surveys * outreach and education in six recovery zones across montana washington * wyoming and idaho. This agreement is essential to the conservation of grizzly and is a benefit for the government in that IT will improve coordination with private landowners * the public * federal and state agencies * and tribes to advance grizzly bear conservation and recovery.project activities include monitoring of grizzly bears in the cabinet yaak and selkirk ecosystems evaluation of the use of DNA collected at bear RUB trees and corrals to estimate and monitor grizzly populations support of the northern continental divide ecosystem trend monitoring project human bear conflict prevention and outreach and education.annual reports are expected on the activities of this project.please note that this online submission form does not allow for characters such as commas and hyphens. * is inputted where there were commas.