1. (1) "Authorized person" means any individual given written or verbal authority by the livestock owner, or who is authorized by name on a permit to take a grizzly bear. This does not include department staff or wildlife services' staff.
2. (2) "Confirmed grizzly bear mortality" means a situation where a grizzly bear carcass is present.
3. (3) "Demographic monitoring area" or "DMA" is the area within which the grizzly bear population is monitored, where population estimates are derived, and within which the mortality threshold will apply.
4. (4) "Department" means Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
5. (5) "Department director" means Montana, Fish, Wildlife and Parks' director.
6. (6) "Investigate" or "investigation" means a fact-gathering and analytical activity conducted to determine the facts relating to a reported incident and to assess a fitting non-lethal or lethal management response.
7. (7) "Non-lethal and preventative measures" means actions to prevent or reduce conflict that are not intended to injure or kill a grizzly bear.
8. (8) "Probable grizzly bear mortality" means a situation where there is sufficient evidence of grizzly bear blood, hair, and other grizzly bear tissues, to support a finding of death.
9. (9) "Take" or "taken" means the confirmed and probable killing of a grizzly bear by firearm.
10. (10) "Wildlife services" means the United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Authorizing statute(s): 87-1-201, 87-1-301, MCA

Implementing statute(s): 87-5-301, 87-6-106, MCA

History: NEW, 2024 MAR p. 60, Eff. 1/13/24.