Fishing bridge: 25 years of controversy regarding grizzly bear management in Yellowstone National Park

Scientists and managers want to use the best available information to make decisions that affect natural resources. However, we believe the case history of research and management of the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) in the Fishing Bridge area of Yellowstone National Park typifies the frequent failure of effective information transfer between scientists, managers, and the public. For 25 years, plans to reduce human influences on grizzly bears and their habitat have been revised or postponed, causing grizzly bear advocates to criticize managers' intent and commitment. The time lag between scientific data collection, analysis, and information transfer to decisionmakers as well as changes in both the biological and socio-political environment hindered progress toward what was clearly intended as a benefit to the ecosystem's population of grizzly bears. This case study reaffirms the need for constant monitoring and evaluation of progress toward stated objectives and points to the need for increased flexibility in federal agencies' application of decision-making strategies. We suggest that agencies become familiar with techniques such as adaptive management as a method to adjust to constantly changing conditions.