The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) cancelled planned public comment meetings in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming about a January 8 decision to not delist the grizzly bear population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE).
“In light of the recent transition and the need for this Administration to review the recent grizzly bear proposed rule, the Service is cancelling all four of the public meetings and hearings that the agency voluntarily scheduled on this proposal. They had been scheduled for Jan. 28, 29, 30 and Feb. 10.”
The recent change in presidential administrations puts a new light on the grizzly decision and another to not delist the growing wolf population in Great Lakes’ states. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation opposed both of those decisions.
“Once again, decisionmakers are moving the goalposts for delisting and turning their backs on the established science and success linked to these recovered populations at a time when we should be recognizing and celebrating them,” said RMEF Chief Conservation Officer Blake Henning.
The GYE grizzly population met federal recovery criteria more than two decades ago.
RMEF has long maintained that state wildlife agencies should be allowed to manage recovered grizzlies and wolves just as they manage elk, black bears, mule and whitetail deer, mountain lions and other wildlife species.
USFWS also proposed an entirely new set of criteria for delisting that includes a new larger Distinct Population Segment (DPS) that includes most of the states of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming and the entirety of Washington.
Go here to view a podcast titled, “Truth about Timber”, and the role frivolous environmental litigation plays in thwarting beneficial active forest management and its detrimental impact on grizzlies, elk and other wildlife.
(Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)