Federal, state wildlife agencies launch campaign to prevent grizzly bear killings

Federal and state wildlife agencies have launched a campaign to prevent grizzly bear killings in the greater Yellowstone region after a record number of deaths last year. More backcountry ranger patrols are planned, thousands of warning signs will be posted and hunters and hikers will be encouraged to use pepper spray instead of firearms when approached by a bear. Forty-eight bears were killed by humans last year, out of 79 total grizzly deaths. That included at least 20 killed by hunters who shot the animals out of self-defense or after mistaking them for black bears. There are an estimated 600 grizzlies in the Yellowstone region of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. They were removed from the endangered species list in 2007, although it remains illegal to intentionally shoot the animals. Seventeen grizzlies have died so far this year. If the death rate stays high for a second consecutive year, that would trigger a review of the bear's endangered status...AP