(Fremont County, WY) – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) recent decision to retain the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) grizzly bear on the endangered species list has reignited a fierce debate about wildlife management in Wyoming. The decision has drawn sharp reaction from state officials and conservation groups alike, highlighting the complexities surrounding grizzly bear recovery and coexistence in our region.
Governor Mark Gordon expressed strong disappointment, labeling the move as politically motivated rather than science-based. “The GYE grizzly bear has been delisted twice,” he stated on January 8th. “Population determinations should not be made whimsically. Wyoming wildlife managers, who are experts on this species, should lead decision-making affecting grizzly bear country. I will continue exploring avenues to return grizzly management to Wyoming.”
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department echoed the Governor’s sentiments. Director Angi Bruce called the decision an affront to Wyoming’s conservation efforts. “Grizzly bears are fully recovered in the GYE. This is not a science-based decision but rather an unwillingness by the federal government to relinquish control,” Bruce said.
Grizzly bears, once near extinction with just 130 individuals in the GYE in 1975, now number over 1,000. This recovery has been pointed to as a cornerstone success of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Conservation groups like the Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC) credit decades of coordinated efforts for this turnaround.
“Thankfully, grizzlies are no longer on the brink,” says GYC Executive Director Scott Christensen. “But the decision to maintain protections for bears demonstrates more work remains. Our goal is to ensure that any future transition to state management maintains and builds upon this conservation success long into the future.”
The GYC stated in a January 8th blog post that the USFWS’s decision underscores the need for enhanced co-management frameworks and continued conservation investments. The GYC’s priorities include ensuring habitat protection, mitigating human-wildlife conflicts, and maintaining population stability through interagency agreements.
Representative Harriet Hageman responded to the announcement by reintroducing the Grizzly Bear State Management Act, aiming to quickly delist GYE grizzlies and restore state control.
“Wyoming has surpassed recovery goals, yet federal officials, influenced by special interests, refuse to act,” Hageman said in a January 9th press release. “Families shouldn’t have to live in fear of grizzly bears rummaging through their trash or endangering their children. My legislation addresses the concerns of the people of Wyoming that are being ignored by Washington.”
Hageman criticized the federal government for shifting goals and delaying decisions related to the issue, asserting that Wyoming’s proven track record of grizzly management is being ignored. Her proposed bill directs the removal of GYE grizzly bears from the endangered and threatened species list within 180 days and significantly limits the ability of the delisting to be challenged in court.
Federal protections remain, for now, and some are calling for solutions to balance conservation success with the challenges of living alongside grizzlies. Proposed Greater Yellowstone Coalition measures include strengthening state laws, ensuring federal funding for conflict prevention, and addressing the human pressures of increased visitation in grizzly habitats.
GYC says the path forward requires collaboration among federal, state, Tribal, and local entities. “Living with grizzly bears isn’t always easy, but with policies driven by experts rather than politics, both people and bears can thrive,” Christensen noted.
Wyoming’s elected leadership remains largely resolute in advocating for state management, emphasizing that the grizzly’s recovery story must now transition into sustainable coexistence.