Why It Matters: Success of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is dependent on coordination amongst federal and state wildlife managers, landowners, and others that have a vested stake in the recovery of a listed species. One of the most pressing challenges with the ESA is failing to delist a species from federal management and return the management of the species to the states once population recovery goals have been met. Unfortunately, in the case of certain species, such as grizzly bears in this particular case, endless circles of lawsuits and other extraneous reasons unrelated to the overall population health of a species threaten to undermine the relationships between federal and state wildlife managers and further erode public trust.
Highlights:
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced on Wednesday January 8, 2025, that grizzly bears would remain listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in the lower 48 states, including the recovered Greater Yellowstone and North Continental Divide Ecosystems populations.
- In addition to maintaining the threatened status for grizzly bears, the proposal also established one distinct population segment for the entire range of grizzly bears in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Washington, which will likely make the return of grizzly bears to state management in the future much more difficult.
- Furthermore, the proposal also establishes new ESA 4(d) management practices for grizzly bears, but it is unclear how the 4(d) rule will allow for flexibility to manage grizzly bears when necessary.
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) strongly supports science-based wildlife management and adherence to long-established recovery plans and certainty for those directly impacted by federal decisions.
On Wednesday January 8, 2025, the US Fish and Wildlife Service proposed an update to Grizzly Bear Listing and Management in the lower 48 states. This announcement comes as a response to a petition filed by Montana and Wyoming requesting the downlisting of grizzly bears along with a settlement agreement with the state of Idaho. The states were requesting delisting in both the Greater-Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) and the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystems (NCDE). FWS denied both petitions filed by Montana and Wyoming to delist grizzlies and return management authority to the respective state agencies. Prior to the decision, the NCDE and GYE population segments were considered recovered by nearly all accounts; however, the establishment of one large distinct population segment removes regional distinctions from the equation.
Once the rule is published with the Federal register, FWS will open a 60-day public comment period on the proposal that would merge all grizzly bear recovery zones. Currently there are six grizzly bear recovery zones throughout the northwestern states, which include the NDCE and GYE distinct population segments (DPS). Under the new proposal FWS would transition to one single DPS in the northwestern states. In addition to the DPS adjustment, FWS is proposing a 4(d) rule aimed at providing management flexibility as states and the federal government work to promote conservation with a goal of eventual delisting of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation recognizes the substantial inter-governmental collaboration that has existed between states and the federal government to recover grizzly bear populations in the northwestern region. As endangered populations reach recovery thresholds, it is important to have a swift and smooth transition from federal to state management in support of their localized wildlife and habitat management plans. CSF will continue to support on the ground, science-based, management practices, including hunting, through the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.
