The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to remove Yellowstone grizzly bears from the endangered species list.
In an announcement Thursday, the service announced the increase in grizzly bear population in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho since 1975 is “one of America’s great conservation successes.”
About 700 grizzly bears live in the region, up from 136 in 1975.
“The recovery of the Yellowstone grizzly bear represents a historic success for partnership-driven wildlife conservation under the Endangered Species Act,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “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.”
Since conservation began in earnest in the 1970s, the grizzly bear has doubled its range in the Yellowstone ecosystem, up to 22,500 square miles.
The population of grizzlies in the region has been stable for a decade. Federal officials say that shows the area has reached its capacity for the amount of bears it can support.
The proposed delisting of the grizzly bear from the Endangered Species Act will be posted in the Federal Register in the coming days and will be up for a 60-day comment period.
Ashe said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would continue to monitor the grizzly bear population in the area.
“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 said.
“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 looking forward to hearing from the public about the proposal and consulting with Native American tribes.”
