CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on Wednesday that grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem will remain federally listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, a decision that has garnered criticism from lawmakers like Gov. Mark Gordon.
“The reality is that grizzly bears are increasing in population and expanding in range well beyond original recovery targets,” said Lesli Allison, chief executive officer of the Western Landowners Alliance. “While grizzly bear recovery is widely celebrated as a success, the moving goalposts for delisting are a source of deep frustration for many in the region. People who live and work in recovery areas continue to experience increasing conflicts, safety concerns and disproportionate economic costs.”
Grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have been listed as protected under the Endangered Species Act for 50 years. In 2023, The Wyoming Game and Fish Department reported that there were approximately 1,030 grizzlies in the Cowboy State following several years of steady growth…