040-67 Wyo. Code R. §§ 67-3 - Definitions

Definition shall be as set forth in Title 23, Wyoming Statutes, Commission Regulations, and the Commission also adopts the following definitions:

(a) "Demographic Monitoring Area" (DMA) means the area that includes approximately 19,279 mi2 in area as depicted in the map in Appendix I where recovery must be demonstrated for Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bears. The DMA was developed by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team as the area within which the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population is monitored, where population estimates are derived and within which the total mortality limits will apply.

(b) "Dependent young" means any cub of the year or yearling grizzly bear, or any grizzly bear offspring traveling with an adult female grizzly bear.

(c) "Discretionary Mortality" means human-caused grizzly bear mortality over which the Department has control and authority.

(d) "Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem" (GYE) means the geographic area which includes the Yellowstone Plateau and fourteen (14) contiguous mountain ranges at or above approximately 5,000ft elevation and contains the headwaters of the Missouri-Mississippi, Snake-Columbia and Green-Colorado river systems. In Wyoming, the GYE includes the Yellowstone Plateau and the Absaroka, Beartooth, Gros Ventre, Wind River, Wyoming and Teton Mountain Ranges, and the headwaters of the Yellowstone, Snake, Wind and Green Rivers.

(e) "Distinct Population Segment" (DPS) means that portion of Idaho east of Interstate Highway 15 and north of U.S. Highway 30; that portion of Montana east of Interstate Highway 15 and south of Interstate Highway 90; that portion of Wyoming south/southwest of Interstate Highway 90, west of Interstate Highway 25, Wyoming State Highway 220, and U.S. Highway 287 south of Three Forks (at the intersection of U.S. Highways 220 and 287), and north of Interstate Highway 80 and U.S. Highway 30 as depicted in the map in Appendix I. The DPS is specific to the GYE grizzly bear population. Grizzly bears that occur within the DPS outside of the National Park System and Wind River Reservation are managed under Commission authority.

(f) "Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team" (IGBST) means the interdisciplinary group of scientists and biologists responsible for long-term monitoring and research efforts on grizzly bears in the GYE. The IGBST contains representatives from the U.S. Geological Survey, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapahoe Tribal Fish and Game Department, and the states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

(g) "Management Plan" means the Wyoming Grizzly Bear Management Plan approved by the Commission May 11, 2016.

(h) "Non-discretionary Mortality" means grizzly bear mortalities over which the Department has no control, including but not limited to, natural mortality, illegal take, defense-of-human-life and vehicle collisions.

(j) "Tri-State MOA" means the Memorandum of Agreement between Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming that establishes coordinated management of the GYE grizzly bear population.

Notes

040-67 Wyo. Code R. §§ 67-3

Adopted, Eff. 9/6/2016.