Feds Move Grizzly Delisting Goalposts… Again!

“The Service’s proposed rule would revise that listing to establish a single distinct population segment (DPS) encompassing areas in Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming,” 

You can read the USFWS official release here.

This map shows the new USFWS Distinct Population Segment for grizzly bears under the agency’s new 4(d) Rule. 

Photo Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

I could probably just show you that map and it would be enough to illustrate how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has conveniently moved the goalposts for grizzly bear delisting once again. But, this is a blog so you’re going to get my dos pesos.

“This reclassification will facilitate recovery of grizzly bears and provide a stronger foundation for eventual delisting,” said Martha Williams, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director. “And the proposed changes to our 4(d) rule will provide management agencies and landowners more tools and flexibility to deal with human/bear conflicts, an essential part of grizzly bear recovery.”

Uh huh… and when that recovery goal is met there will be another which moves the DPS (Distinct Population Segment into Oregon, California, Utah and Colorado? Don’t forget that the goal has always been a corridor of grizzly bear connectivity from Yellowstone to the Yukon. It is extremely frustrating how states like Montana and Wyoming have exceeded grizzly bear recovery objectives only to have the rules changed in a blatant effort to usurp state management.

That said, the USFWS did throw some breadcrumbs to the peasants by removing ESA protections from bears outside of the new DPS… “The proposed action removes ESA protections outside the newly proposed DPS, where grizzly bears do not occur and are not expected to inhabit in the future.”

Good news for folks living where there are no bears to begin with. For the rest of us having the ability to actively manage our own bears seems to be a pipe dream.

You can read the USFWS official release here.

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