Following what appears to be a successful population recovery of grizzly bears living in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has proposed removing the iconic animals from the nation's endangered and threatened wildlife list.
The wildlife agency reported that the bears have rebounded from an estimated 136 in 1975 to a population of more than 700 today.
"The recovery of the Yellowstone grizzly bear represents a historic success for partnership-driven wildlife conservation under the Endangered Species Act," FWS Director Dan Ashe said in a news release. "Our proposal today underscores and celebrates more than 30 years of collaboration with our trusted federal, state and tribal partners to address the unique habitat challenges of grizzlies. The final post-delisting management plans by these partners will ensure healthy grizzly populations persist across the Yellowstone ecosystem long into the future."
The FWS also released documents explaining how the agency plans to monitor the bears and their habitat, pending they are delisted.
"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," Ashe added.
The iconic grizzlies - spread across Yellowstone National Park in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho - now range over more than 22,500 square miles. The FWS says that grizzlies have maintained stable populations for more than a decade, suggesting the Yellowstone ecosystem is at or near its carrying capacity for the bears.
However, determining recovery is based on more than just the number of bears wandering the park. For instance, the quantity and quality of habitat is examined, along with the ratio of male to female bears.
Going forward, there will be a 60-day comment period, in which people can weigh in on the proposed delisting of Yellowstone grizzly bears.
"We will continue to be part of a strong monitoring program, implementation of the conservation strategy, and partnership with our state and federal partners," Ashe said. "We are look forward to hearing from the public about the proposal and consulting with Native American tribes."
If the bears lose protection under the Endangered Species Act it means they can be hunted. Therefore, delisting the bears raises concern among conservationists, who feel the the FWS's proposal is premature.
"Yellowstone's amazing grizzly bears are loved by people around the world, and they deserve a real shot at survival," said Andrea Santarsiere, a staff attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity. "It's frustrating to see the Fish and Wildlife Service moving to strip protections for bears when these majestic creatures live in just a tiny fraction of their historic range and face a slew of ongoing threats. The science just doesn't support removing protections for Yellowstone's bears right now."
