MISSOULA, MT — Chuck Bartlebaugh says some grizzly bear populations have recovered enough that hunting or relocation could be considered as the federal government looks at changing how it manages grizzlies.

Bartlebaugh has spent almost 50 years photographing bears and teaching people about them. He says he hopes local groups all have a voice in whatever happens next.

“We have not bound all the different groups together: the hunter, the fishermen farmers, ranchers, people who run cities into a cohesive group to work in a positive way to keep grizzly and black bears wild,” said Chuck Bartlebaugh, founder of the Be Bear Aware Campaign.

Bartlebaugh says he first wanted to become an IndyCar driver. He says close calls at high speeds changed that plan and pushed him toward another interest he grew up with through his dad.

“So, I said, I’m going to work for grizzly bears, and I came out and started photographing not to be a photographer of nature, but to be a photographer of education, to show people how to enjoy wildlife safely and responsibly and so forth,” said Bartlebaugh.

He later worked with Yellowstone National Park to help educate visitors. He says many problems begin when people try to feed wild animals or take photos with them.

“Approaching as a human, as non-threatening as you do it, 'why is this person coming towards you, and what is it they want to do?'" said Bartlebaugh. "Bears say, do I have to fight or do I have to flee? Where are my choices?”

Bartlebaugh’s Be Bear Aware Campaign offers free safety materials on its website for people who want to learn more about being safe around bears.