Grizzly bears in Wyoming have been under Threatened Species status in Wyoming since 1975. That status was valid for the first several decades, but the recovery efforts have been working very well. It is now estimated that there are more than 1,000 grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which is well above the target population for delisting. The bears were delisted twice in the last decade, though both times, lawsuits from environmental advocacy groups resulted in the animals being placed back under threatened status.
The Fish & Wildlife Service had originally said it would issue a ruling of whether the bears could be delisted or should remain under threatened status by July of 2024, but they missed that deadline. Now U.S. District Court of Wyoming Judge Alan Johnson has ordered a ruling by January 20.
The service could still recommend they be listed as threatened, but Wyoming, Idaho and Montana have brought the population levels well above the threshold for delisting. There are still issues that could cause difficulties for grizzlies, such as a reduction in cutthroat trout and whitebark pine, which are two important food sources. However, biologists have proven that grizzlies are highly adaptable and find other foods when their preferred sources are unavailable. Whitebark pine cones, for instance, are cyclical, and they have never been available every year. In those years when they’re not available, the bears find other foods, and populations have increased even in those lean whitebark pine years.
So I’m hoping we have grizzly bears off the Endangered Species List early in the new year. It may still be a while before we can use hunting to manage their numbers, but it’s a good start.
