Historic day for Yellowstone grizzlies
Friday, March 23, 2007
By Melanie Stein
Jackson Hole, Wyo--Yesterday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the final delisting of the Yellowstone grizzly bear from the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Yellowstone grizzlies were proposed for delisting in November of 2005 and were officially removed from protection of the ESA on March 22, 2007.
This distinct population segment of grizzlies recovered sufficiently so as not to be considered threatened or endangered.
When Yellowstone grizzlies were first listed under the ESA in 1975, scientists estimated that a mere 140 or so animals remained in the ecosystem. Now, in 2007, scientists estimate there are over 500 individuals.
Additionally, grizzlies have expanded their range by 48 percent and occupy areas from which they were absent for decades.
“Intensive monitoring of the population and its habitat will continue so that managers can continue to base management decisions on the best available scientific information,” the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said on its Web site.
“The Yellowstone distinct population segment represents a viable population which has sufficient numbers and distribution of reproductive individuals so as to provide a high likelihood that the species will continue to exist and be well distributed through its range for the foreseeable future.”
Once a species is removed from the ESA, responsibility for managing it returns to the states.
In the case of the Yellowstone grizzly bear, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana will administer state management plans to ensure that bear populations remain healthy.
“[The] announcement represents a huge step forward in not only the management of grizzly bears, but also in the administration of the Endangered Species Act,” Governor Dave Freudenthal said.
“I hope that the decision to return management responsibility for the bears back to the states is a harbinger of good things to come for the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse, wolves, bald eagles and sage grouse.”
Read more about delisting in next week’s Planet print edition.
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Historic day for Yellowstone grizzlies | Planet JH News Article: General News
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