Grizzly Bear Management Moving In The Right Direction!

 

The Department of Interior announced a proposal that is going to give States the power to manage grizzly bears in areas where the species are overpopulated and recovery benchmarks are above set criteria. This proposal is a revision of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) which will provide additional management flexibility in areas where conservation benchmarks and population objectives have been achieved. The proposal would help wildlife managers address conflicts and public safety concerns while continuing to support the long-term conservation of grizzly bears. 

 

“The 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,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “Under the leadership of President Trump, we’re following the science, upholding the law and ending politics masquerading as conservation.” 

 

The revised proposal supports the Trump administration’s goal of reducing unnecessary regulatory complexity, empowering States and tribes and ensuring wildlife management decisions are practical, science-based and effective on the ground. This rule however does not change the grizzly bear’s listing status under the Endangered Species Act and does not affect existing experimental population designations. 

 

While this does not mean that there will be a hunting season per say, it is a step in the right direction of grizzly bear management. Implying the States will make management decisions now, means that hunting grizzlies could be on the horizon in areas that have high conflict and population density issues. 

 

Currently, around 70 bears are removed per year by wildlife officials in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. These are considered conflict bears, so the need for harvest and the benefit of generating revenue for the State and keeping its citizens safe is a winning situation for all, including the renewable resource of the grizzly bear. 

 

https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-burgum-returns-management-grizzly-bears-west