If grizzly bears are delisted, management responsibility would generally shift from the federal government to state governments.
BIG SKY, Mont. — Federal and state leaders in Big Sky announced a push to remove grizzly bears from the endangered species list and return more management authority to the states.
U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum held the press conference alongside Gov. Greg Gianforte, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and Idaho Gov. Brad Little.
Gov. Gianforte said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed returning grizzly bear management to the states under Secretary Burgum and President Trump.
“I am proud to stand with these partners to announce that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to do just that. To return management of the grizzly bear back to the states. Under the leadership of Secretary Burgum, President Trump. Our concerns have been heard and they recognize that decisions should be made close to the people affected by them as possible,” Gianforte said.
If grizzly bears are delisted, management responsibility would generally shift from the federal government to state governments.
For the first five years after delisting, the Endangered Species Act would require the state fish and wildlife service to monitor the species’ status in a joint effort with the federal government.
In national parks and national forests, the National Park Service and the Forest Service would continue managing grizzly bears. On state parks and other state-run public land, state management would take over. Tribal entities would manage grizzly bears on tribal lands.
Some of the strongest opposition to delisting has come from Native American tribes in or near the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Both the Crow Tribe and Northern Cheyenne Tribe filed lawsuits within the last decade to keep the bears’ threatened status.
Jason Whiteman with the Northern Cheyenne Tribe said he wanted a less extreme approach to grizzly management.
“To delist it is right now at this point is probably I don't want to say premature, but it is true in demonstrations where grizzly bear management has been, in some of the states as well, and successful in expanding the grizzly bear ecosystem,” Whiteman said.
Whiteman also pointed to documents from the Lewis and Clark expedition that he said showed grizzlies once ranged far beyond their current footprint.
He said an ideal outcome would balance the needs of farmers and ranchers with local ecosystems through a more collaborative approach.
Originally published on montanarightnow.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
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