Feds Redrawing Grizzly Bear Territory Like Political Gerrymandering
Published Date: 1/15/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to update the grizzly bear’s endangered status to clearly show where these bears live now and where they might roam soon in Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. They’re keeping the grizzly bear listed as threatened and tweaking the rules to better protect them. This update helps focus conservation efforts and invites public comments before final decisions.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
DPS Boundary Defined; Threatened Status Retained
The Fish and Wildlife Service proposes to define the contiguous U.S. grizzly bear Distinct Population Segment (DPS) to include all of Washington and portions of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming and to keep that DPS listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The proposal updates the listing language at 50 CFR 17.11(h) and clarifies where the federal protections in 50 CFR 17.40(b) apply.
Revised Section 4(d) Protections and Exceptions
The Service proposes to revise the grizzly bear's protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act and is specifically seeking information about which section 9 prohibitions to include or clarify. The Service asks whether to consider exceptions such as: incidental take from legal trapping for other species (consistent with State/Tribal rules), incidental take from issuance of State or Tribal hunting permits for other species, incidental take from legal hunting of other species, and take from regulated State or Tribal grizzly bear hunting in areas where populations are expanding.
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Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-00325, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem of the Grizzly Bear in the Lower-48 States
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reviewed a request to create and remove a special grizzly bear group in the Greater Yellowstone area from protection. They found that this group doesn’t qualify as a separate population, so they won’t change its protected status right now. This decision, made in January 2025, keeps protections in place for grizzlies in the lower-48 states, ensuring their safety continues without new costs or deadlines.
Next: 2025-00330, Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding for the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem of the Grizzly Bear in the Lower-48 States
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reviewed a request to create and then remove a special grizzly bear group in the Northern Continental Divide area. They found that this group doesn’t qualify as a separate population, so no changes to its protected status will happen now. This decision keeps protections in place for grizzlies in the lower-48 states, with no new costs or deadlines announced.