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\u201cThe science is more than clear: grizzly bears have recovered and far exceeded every federal recovery benchmark. Today, Interior is returning conservation leadership to the Western states instead of Washington bureaucrats,\u201d Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
There have been multiple attempts to delist grizz from the Endangered Species Act (ESA), but both ultimately failed in court. This proposal marks a different approach. Grizzly bears would remain listed on the ESA, but under section 4(d), the federal government will concede grizzly management to the states.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cThe grizzly bear recovery story is one of America’s great conservation successes,\u201d Montana Governor Greg Gianforte said. \u201cWith this success has come a challenge\u2014bears have expanded into new areas and conflicts have increased with farmers, ranchers, recreationists, and residents. Returning management to the states is a welcome change and Montana is ready to balance conservation and the safety of our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
However, some think the revision will open the gates for more grizzly mortalities. \u201cWe\u2019re disappointed the Trump administration is trying to make it easier to kill grizzly bears,\u201d Andrea Zaccardi, senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, told Mountain Journal<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In the last 50 years, grizzly populations in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have increased from 136 to over 1,000. It\u2019s an undeniable conservation victory achieved over decades of collaborative work between wildlife officials, states, tribes, federal agencies, private landowners, hunters, and conservationists. While the rule change won\u2019t make grizzly tags available anytime soon, it will give states more flexibility and authority to manage them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cGrizzly bear recovery has reached a critical point where management, not just protection, must lead the next chapter,\u201d Jess Johnson, Government Affairs Director for the Wyoming Wildlife Federation, told MeatEater. \u201cThis revision highlights the decades of work that have delivered significant successes and makes clear that continued progress depends on active, state-led management. It is not an endpoint but a transition. It is a milestone and a call to action, setting the stage for states to take on greater responsibility. It is up to us to ensure states rise to the occasion. This is a win worth celebrating.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n