The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service upheld protections for grizzly bears, rejecting calls from western states to remove them from the endangered list despite population recovery and setting up a policy clash with the incoming Trump administration.
Dino Grandoni reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- Grizzly bear populations in the Lower 48 have grown from around 700 in 1975 to over 2,100 today, mostly in Yellowstone and Glacier regions.
- The Fish and Wildlife Service denied petitions from Montana and Wyoming to delist grizzlies but proposed allowing ranchers more latitude to protect livestock from bear encounters.
- Republicans, led by Rep. Bruce Westerman, plan to challenge the decision, citing threats to farmers and ranchers.
Key quote:
“We don’t want to wait until the problem occurs because then it’s too late.”
— Chris Servheen, retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist
Why this matters:
Grizzly bears' recovery is seen as a conservation success, but their expanding range increases human-wildlife conflicts. Balancing species recovery with agricultural interests remains a contentious issue, especially amid rising climate-related habitat pressures.
Read more: Endangered Species Act faces potential overhaul under Trump
