The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently listened to arguments from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) about a previous decision to delist Yellowstone-area grizzly bears. Citing a population of approximately 700 bears, USFWS removed the species from the Endangered Species List in 2017 only to have a federal judge reverse the ruling and return grizzlies to federal protection.
RMEF and the Sportsmen’s Alliance are interveners in the case, having filed a joint appeal in December of 2018 and submitted briefs for the recent hearing.
There is no word when the court will issue a ruling.
RMEF agrees with professional wildlife managers that the grizzly population met recovery goals, adapted to changes in its habitat and that state wildlife agencies will ensure the continued conservation of the species which includes a safety net.
(Photo source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)