Parks Group Responds to Sweeping Grizzly Bear Conservation Plans for Lower 48 States

DENVER – Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) issued a series of announcements regarding federal protections for grizzly bears in the Lower 48, including Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, and North Cascades national park populations.

The Service’s announcements included a decision to maintain Endangered Species Act protections for grizzly bears from the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide populations. The decision was based on extensive public input and scientific review of remaining threats and was in response to petitions from Wyoming and Montana that requested an end to federal protections for the two populations.   

“NPCA wholeheartedly supports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s decision today to retain Endangered Species Act protections for grizzly bear populations in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier national parks,” said Allison Michalski, Northern Rockies Connectivity Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). “Thanks to years of hard work by state, federal and Tribal wildlife managers, in partnership with farmers, ranchers, and local communities, grizzly bear populations have recovered from the brink of extinction. However, with threats remaining, including a lack of genetic connectivity between Glacier, Grand Teton and Yellowstone grizzlies and problematic state laws and policies in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, we still do not have a clear path to recovery. Bears, people, national parks, and our region’s unique working lands all benefit when we work together.”

In addition, the Service released a new proposal that could alter grizzly bear management and recovery in the Lower-48. This includes a proposal to increase management flexibility for states and establish a new vision for species recovery across ecosystems.

“We are reviewing the agency’s proposal, which appears to create a new comprehensive vision for management of grizzly bears in the lower 48 states. What happens next matters for national park grizzlies,” said NPCA Wildlife Program Director Stephanie Adams. “It’s critical we ensure that federal agencies recognize the unique differences and solutions between populations, and don’t apply a one size fits all management approach to grizzly bear recovery. We will be working with our community partners to help write the next chapter in the story of national park grizzly bear recovery.”

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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.