Grizzly Bear Status Review Underway Amidst Calls to Delist

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reviewing the status of grizzly Bear populations in the Northern Continental Divide and Greater Yellowstone ecosystems, potentially paving the way for the removal of Endangered Species Act protections.

Threats to Recovery Remain Despite Past Successes

Despite a recent recovery in grizzly bear populations across the United States, driven by the Endangered Species Act, concerns remain. Just two years ago, the Service itself determined that grizzly bears of the lower 48 states needed federal protection due to significant threats. A previous delisting of bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in 2017 was later reversed following litigation highlighting the population's vulnerable genetic health.

Governor’s Petition and Public Opposition

The current review is prompted by a petition from the governors of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming seeking to delist grizzly bears. However, Idaho’s petition was rejected, and the Service is now focusing on the Northern Continental Divide and Greater Yellowstone populations. A recent poll found that 73% of Americans oppose grizzly bear trophy hunting, and a 2018 study indicated that 74% of grizzly bear biologists did not believe the Greater Yellowstone population was recovered.

Concerns About Hunting and Genetic Health

Grizzly bears have a slow reproduction rate, making them particularly vulnerable to hunting. Following the 2017 delisting in Greater Yellowstone, Idaho and Wyoming quickly implemented trophy hunts. Critics argue that these actions disregard the economic benefits of ecotourism and the species' precarious genetic health. Historically, grizzly bear populations numbered around 50,000 in the early 1800s, but they were nearly wiped out by the 1930s.