FWS Extends Tracking of Endangered Wolves and Bears
Published Date: 3/12/2026
Notice
Summary
The Fish and Wildlife Service is renewing three important info collections about endangered animals like gray wolves and grizzly bears, without making any changes. This affects people who work with or study these special animal groups and helps keep tracking smooth and easy. You’ve got until May 11, 2026, to share your thoughts, and there’s no new cost or paperwork hassle coming your way!
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 5 costs, 1 mixed.
Gray Wolf Take Authorization Rules
For the Colorado gray wolf nonessential experimental population, the Service or a designated agent may issue written take authorizations valid for not longer than 1 year, and may issue a 'repeatedly depredating wolf or wolves' written take authorization of limited duration (45 days or fewer) to landowners or permittees to take up to a specified number of wolves.
Grizzly Bear Conditioned Lethal Authorization
For the grizzly bear nonessential experimental population, individuals may lethally take a grizzly bear within 200 yards (183 meters) of legally present livestock in Management Areas B and C if depredation has been confirmed by the Service or an authorized agency and nonlethal options are not reasonably possible; the Service may also authorize lethal take in Management Area C for bears identified as an ongoing threat to human safety, livestock, or other property.
Renewal of Three Information Collections
The Fish and Wildlife Service is renewing three information collections (OMB Control Nos. 1018-0095, 1018-0197, and 1018-0199) without change. The renewals keep current reporting rules in place for experimental populations (including gray wolves and grizzly bears) and the notice states there is no estimated annual non-hour burden cost.
Required Incident Reporting Timeframes
If you report incidents involving experimental population animals, the rule requires specific reporting deadlines: lethal take must be reported within 24 hours, opportunistic or intentional harassment within 7 days, and animals taken into captivity or euthanized within 24 hours (as described for the general experimental population collection).
Colorado Wolf Annual Report Deadline
Colorado Parks and Wildlife must produce an annual report by June 30 each year documenting wolf monitoring and management, including post-release movements, minimum counts or abundance estimates, reproductive success and recruitment, territory use, cause-specific mortalities, and summaries of conflicts and management actions.
Tribal Proposal Requirements for Wolf Removal
Tribes seeking to allow take of gray wolves on Tribal lands for impacts to wild ungulate herds must submit a science-based proposal that includes data on ungulate population objectives and declines, evidence wolves are a major cause, proposed level/duration of wolf removal, measurement plans, and documentation of other measures attempted, and the proposal must undergo public and peer review with at least three independent peer reviewers.
Grizzly Bear Reporting Deadlines and Nonlethal Reporting
Under the grizzly bear collection, lethal take must be reported within 24 hours and nonlethal take that results in injury must be reported within 5 days; the collection also requires reporting of recovered or dead specimens and specimen collection information.
Estimated Annual Respondent Burden Hours
The notice lists estimated annual burden for each collection: the general experimental population collection shows a total of 105 annual responses and 55 total annual burden hours; the Colorado gray wolf collection shows 24 annual responses and 24 total annual burden hours; the grizzly bear collection shows 15 annual responses and 15 total annual burden hours.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-10846 — Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is officially protecting over 1.5 million acres of land across six states to save the rusty patched bumble bee, a once-common pollinator now endangered. Starting July 1, 2026, this critical habitat designation will help keep these bees buzzing by limiting harmful activities in these areas. Landowners and communities in 33 counties should get ready for new rules that support bee recovery without heavy costs.
2026-08146 — Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Rayed Bean, Sheepnose, Snuffbox, and Spectaclecase Mussels
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is officially protecting over 3,800 river miles across 17 states as critical habitat for four endangered freshwater mussels: rayed bean, sheepnose, snuffbox, and spectaclecase. This means these rivers will get special care to help these mussels survive and thrive. The new protections start May 27, 2026, and could affect activities near these waters, encouraging conservation efforts without heavy costs.
2026-05678 — Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for 22 Species in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Territory of Guam
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to protect 22 special plants and animals in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands by marking nearly 60,000 acres as critical habitat. This means these areas will get extra care to help these species survive and thrive. People can share their thoughts by June 22, 2026, and an economic report is ready to show how this might affect local communities.
2026-11582 — Receipt of Enhancement of Survival Permit Application and Proposed Conservation Benefit Agreement for the Benefit of the Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbit in Washington; Categorical Exclusion
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife asked for a special permit to help protect the tiny Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit by working with landowners to improve its habitat. This plan aims to connect habitats and grow the rabbit’s population while giving landowners clear rules and support. The public can share their thoughts on this plan until July 10, 2026.
2026-11645 — Marine Mammals; Proposed Incidental Harassment Authorization for the Southern Beaufort Sea Stock of Polar Bears in the Prudhoe Bay Area of the North Slope Borough, Alaska; Draft Environmental Assessment
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a request from BP to allow a small number of Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears to be disturbed (but not harmed) during cleanup and monitoring work near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, from June 2026 to May 2027. This plan aims to protect polar bears while letting BP do important environmental work. Public comments are open until July 10, 2026, so everyone can share their thoughts!
2026-11609 — Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of Northeastern Bulrush From the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants
Great news! The northeastern bulrush, a special plant once in danger, is no longer considered endangered or threatened because its risks have dropped a lot. Starting July 10, 2026, it won’t need the extra protections it used to have, saving time and resources for everyone. This change helps focus efforts where they’re needed most while celebrating a win for nature lovers and scientists alike!
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-04788 — Proposed Collection; 30-Day Comment Request; NIH Information Collection Web Interface and Forms To Support Genomic Data Sharing and NIH Controlled-Access Data Repository Requirements (OD)
The NIH wants your thoughts on updating their online forms that help share genomic data for research. This affects researchers who submit genetic info and aims to make the process smoother and clearer. You’ve got until April 13, 2026, to share your feedback—no extra costs, just a chance to improve how data gets shared!
Next: 2026-04790 — Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH or Committee): Notice of Meetings and Member Appointments
The Secretary of Labor just picked nine new members for the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH). This committee will meet online on March 31 and April 1, 2026, to talk about making construction sites safer. If you work in construction or care about safety rules, now’s the time to share your thoughts by March 20, 2026!