After two failed attempts to turn over management of Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzly bears to the northern Rockies states, federal wildlife managers are not immediately recommending that the regionâs bruins be delisted for a third time.
The guidance to maintain grizzlies as âthreatenedâ under the Endangered Species Act across their range in the lower 48 states came in a five-year status review that U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Deputy Regional Director Matt Hogan signed off on last week. But the lack of endorsement for Wyoming-, Montana- and Idaho-led management does not mean the federal government intends to maintain jurisdiction over the ecosystemâs 700-plus grizzlies indefinitely.