Wyoming Official Criticizes Federal Decision to Maintain Grizzly Bear Protections
Wyoming Game and Fish Department Director Angi Bruce has expressed strong disappointment with the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) recent decision to retain the threatened status of grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Oil City News reports.
The announcement, made in response to petitions—including one from Wyoming—seeking to transfer management of GYE grizzlies to the states, has sparked criticism from Wyoming officials and landowners. Governor Mark Gordon accused the Biden Administration of having no intention of delisting the species, despite years of conservation efforts.
Bruce labeled the decision as “extremely disappointing” and argued that it contradicts scientific evidence demonstrating that GYE grizzlies have recovered. She described the recovery of the bears as “one of the greatest wildlife conservation success stories on earth.”
“The science is clear on grizzly bears: They are recovered in the GYE, and their recovery is a conservation success,” Bruce said. “It is very clear that grizzly bears should be under state and Tribal management.”
Bruce criticized the USFWS for what she called a failure to acknowledge the extensive efforts made by Wyoming to restore grizzly populations. She noted that millions of dollars from license fees and countless hours of work by wildlife managers had gone into meeting federal recovery criteria for the species.
“This decision shows that no matter what we do, the USFWS refuses to recognize the state’s efforts as well as the sacrifices and compromises made by the public who live, work, and recreate in areas occupied by grizzly bears,” Bruce said.
The retention of federal protections for GYE grizzlies has long been a contentious issue. Critics argue that the bears have reached recovery benchmarks and should be managed locally by states and Tribal authorities. Bruce asserted that the USFWS decision undermines the intent of the ESA by prioritizing federal control over recognizing local conservation successes.
“This is not a science-based decision, but a decision based on the federal government not wanting to give up control,” Bruce stated.
The debate highlights ongoing tensions between federal agencies and state governments over wildlife management. Wyoming officials, including Bruce, have called for greater recognition of state-led efforts in managing species that have recovered under the ESA.
“This decision is unfortunate and disappointing for grizzly bears and for the people of Wyoming,” Bruce concluded.
The USFWS decision ensures that grizzly bears in the GYE will remain protected under the ESA for the foreseeable future, continuing the federal oversight that has been in place since the species was listed in 1975.
