A new proposal from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service draft rule recognizes the remarkable recovery of the mighty grizzly bear. It involves state and tribal wildlife agencies more directly in continuing those conversation efforts, drawing praise from hunter-led organizations like the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF).
The rule would authorize state and tribal wildlife agencies to activate their own management plans in coordination with the Fish and Wildlife Service. States and tribes would gain more responsiblity for managing bears and deterring damage by bears in areas where grizzlies surpass local objectives.
An example comes in the Greater Yellowstone area, where the grizzly population has increased by approximately 135 bears in 1975 to more than 1,000 today. A clearly defined area that requires its own, specific conservation plan based on the actual circumstances on the ground.
“This rule reflects what successful conservation should look like-recognizing recovery while providing the tools needed to address the challenges that accompany it,” said Gray N. Thornton, president and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. “We commend Secretary Doug Burgum, Director Brian Nesvik, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for advancing a practical, science-based approach that benefits both grizzly bears and the people who live alongside them.”
Grizzly Bear Conservation Efforts
Thornton further praised the generations of wildlife professionals whose work has driven the rebound of grizzly bears. This proposal honors that work, updating modern conservation challenges while building on decades of recovery.
“Our congratulations to Secretary Burgum and Director Nesvik on this common-sense and much-needed rule. Countless U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees, state wildlife professionals, Tribal partners, researchers, and conservationists have devoted their careers to recovering grizzly bears. Their work represents one of North America’s great conservation success stories. This rule recognizes those achievements while providing a path to continue building upon them.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service previously determined that grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have met the biological criteria for recovery under the Endangered Species Act. But delisting has been repeatedly delayed by litigation concerning how current delisting regulations apply to species originally listed decades ago under earlier rules
“This rule will allow conservation to continue advancing while the legal and procedural questions surrounding delisting are addressed,” Thornton said. “Successful wildlife conservation has always been built on continuous improvement, not standing still. Conservation is never one-size-fits-all, and it is never mission accomplished. By recognizing success while allowing management to evolve with changing conditions, this rule ensures grizzly bear conservation continues moving forward on the ground and not stalled in court.”
For more information, visit the Department of Interior.
