US Fish & Wildlife proposes Yellowstone grizzly be delisted

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it’s time to remove the Yellowstone grizzly bear from the federal threatened species list.

In a news release Thursday, March 3, the agency called the bear’s recovery in the past 30 years “one of America’s great successes,” coming from 136 bears in 1975 to its current population of about 700.

However, Fish and Wildlife said determining recovery is based on more than mere numbers.

“It includes the quantity and quality of habitat, adequate regulatory mechanisms to maintain a healthy and viable population, and a good balance of male and female bears that are well-distributed throughout the ecosystem,” the agency said.

This isn’t the first time the FWS has proposed the delisting. The bear was removed from the threatened species list in 2007, but it was relisted in 2009 after several groups protested the decision in federal district court, according to the National Park Service.

“Even with this proposed delisting, the service remains committed to the conservation of the Yellowstone grizzly bear, and will stay engaged to ensure that this incredible species remains recovered,” said FWS Director Dan Ashe. “We will continue to be part of a strong monitoring program, implementation of the conservation strategy, and partnership with our state and federal partners. We are look forward to hearing from the public about the proposal and consulting with Native American tribes.”