Grizzly Bears May No Longer Be Listed As An Endangered Species

Due to a new conservation strategy, grizzly bears might no longer be part of the Endangered Species List.  On November 16, Wyoming proposed that the federal protection for these animals should be removed. The Subcommittee of the Yellowstone Ecosystem had stated that a new conservation strategy for the protection of grizzly bears is pending authorization from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

• Grizzly bears might be removed from the Endangered Species List.
• Some argue that there is still a possibility in the near future that this species will go extinct again, especially if states like Idaho or Montana start organizing hunts. 
• The US Fish and Wildlife service is the only authority capable of removing a species from the Endagered Species List and they haven’t decided on the matter, yet. 

Now that authorities thought of the possibility of removing this species from the list, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming would become responsible for the well-being of these animals, assuring management and establishing possible hunting seasons. Brian Nesvik, the chief of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, argued that obtaining this agreement represented a massive effort.

He also claimed that, if grizzly bears are indeed removed from the list, it should be a reason for celebration, the animals representing the most extraordinary conservation success achieved by Cowboy State’s inhabitants. At the moment, the Yellowstone ecosystem offers three thresholds to ascertain the survival of this species.

The new debate leads to the development of a new plan which requires at least six hundred bears evenly spread across the thresholds, thus preventing unnecessary deaths. Current statistics have proved that 700 grizzly bears are living in the Yellowstone area.

Nesvik has claimed that the population of grizzlies is the most studied one in the world. He is trustful when it comes to their method of estimating the number of individuals from this species. Nevertheless, Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming have stated that they assume their responsibility for managing the number of bears on their territory, irrespective of a change in forecasting.

What is more, there are many wildlife and environmental groups which do not agree with the idea of erasing grizzlies off the endangered species list. Bonnie Rice, who is a member of Sierra Club, has argued that the decision of the committee was very disappointing. The Sierra Club has estimated that there exists a 20% chance for the population of grizzlies to decrease below five hundred, thus needing to be on the Endangered Species List again.

Later Edit: This article initially stated that the grizzly bear was removed from the Endangered Species list. The US Fish and Wildlife service has not made a decision yet, the animal still being listed as an endagered species. We apologize for the missinformation.

Image source: wikipedia