Yellowstone’s grizzlies bear up
GRIZZLY bears native to Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding area are being removed from the endangered species list, the US Government said yesterday, calling efforts to replenish the population a major success.
Conservation groups, however, claimed dropping federal protections would again put grizzly bears at risk.
The grizzly bear was first placed on the endangered species list in 1975, when the population was down to 136.
Now, in the “greater Yellowstone ecosystem” covering parts of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, there are 700 bears, meeting the standard for delisting.
Grizzly bear populations in other parts of the continental US remain protected, the Department of the Interior said.
“This achievement stands as one of America’s great conservation successes,” Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said.
Hunters and cattle ranchers in the affected area, who have lobbying power in Washington, said the growth in the bear population was a danger to humans, cattle and other wild animals prized by hunters.
“The grizzly fight is on,” said the non-profit Western Environmental Law Centre.