Daines Statement on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Reaffirmation of the Removal of Greater Yellowstone Grizzly Bears from Endangered Species Act

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today applauded the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s announcement that its 2017 final rule to remove grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) from the Endangered Species Act’s List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife does not require modification.

“It’s important to see sound science confirming the grizzly bear population has recovered,” said Daines. “I look forward to working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state as we continue to manage the population.” 

Background:

On June 22, 2017, Daines released a statement on the U.S. Department of the Interior’s announcement that the Yellowstone population of the grizzly bear has been recovered to the point where federal protections can be removed and overall management can be returned to the states and tribes.

On March 3, 2016, Daines praised the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s (USFWS) announcement about the recovery of the Yellowstone Grizzly.

According to the USFWS, the Yellowstone grizzly bear population has rebounded from as few as 136 bears in 1975 to an estimated 700 or more today.

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