BOZEMAN, MT — The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) today welcomed a new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service draft rule that recognizes the remarkable recovery of grizzly bears and involves state and tribal wildlife agencies more directly in continuing bear conservation.
The rule would authorize state and tribal wildlife agencies to activate their own management plans in coordination with the Fish and Wildlife Service. States and tribes would gain more responsibility for managing bears and deterring damage by bears in areas where grizzlies surpass local objectives – such as the Greater Yellowstone area where the grizzly population has increased from approximately 136 bears in 1975 to more than 1,000 today.
"This rule reflects what successful conservation should look like—recognizing recovery while providing the tools needed to address the challenges that accompany it," said Gray N. Thornton, president and CEO of the Wild Sheep Foundation. "We commend Secretary Doug Burgum, Director Brian Nesvik, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for advancing a practical, science-based approach that benefits both grizzly bears and the people who live alongside them."
Thornton also praised the generations of wildlife professionals whose work has driven the rebound of grizzly bears.
"Our congratulations to Secretary Burgum and Director Nesvik on this common-sense and much-needed rule. Countless U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees, state wildlife professionals, Tribal partners, researchers, and conservationists have devoted their careers to recovering grizzly bears. Their work represents one of North America's great conservation success stories. This rule recognizes those achievements while providing a path to continue building upon them."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has previously determined that grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have met the biological criteria for recovery under the Endangered Species Act. However, delisting has repeatedly been delayed by litigation concerning how current delisting regulations apply to species originally listed decades ago under earlier rules.
"This rule will allow conservation to continue advancing while the legal and procedural questions surrounding delisting are addressed," Thornton said. "Successful wildlife conservation has always been built on continuous improvement, not standing still. Conservation is never one-size-fits-all, and it is never mission accomplished. By recognizing success while allowing management to evolve with changing conditions, this rule ensures grizzly bear conservation continues moving forward on the ground and not stalled in court."
Click here to read the official press release from the Department of the Interior.
About the Wild Sheep Foundation
The Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF), based in Bozeman, Montana, is a leading international conservation organization dedicated to wild sheep and their habitats. Founded in 1977 by sportsmen and conservationists, WSF has invested more than $156 million in conservation efforts worldwide.
Through initiatives focused on habitat enhancement, population restoration, scientific research, education, and advocacy, WSF works to fulfill its mission to “Put and Keep Wild Sheep on the Mountain®.” These efforts have helped restore North American bighorn sheep populations from historic lows of approximately 25,000 in the mid-20th century to more than 85,000 today.
WSF serves a global membership of more than 11,000 supporters and collaborates with partners across North America, Europe, and Asia to ensure a sustainable future for wild sheep. Learn more at www.wildsheepfoundation.org.
Tags: Advocacy, Press Release