Yellowstone grizzly bears will not be delisted from endangered species protection

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has decided not to remove grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem from the endangered species list. This means the bears will continue to receive federal protections, and states cannot manage them independently.

This decision means that states like Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho cannot move forward with plans to manage grizzly bear populations, including potential hunting seasons. For years, these states have argued that the Yellowstone grizzly population has recovered enough to no longer need federal protection. The federal government disagrees, keeping a tight leash on how the bears are managed.