Support conservation measures to delist grizzlies

Reference is made to the opinion piece “Grizzly bear population is out of control,” by Dale Jorgenson, Daily Inter Lake, Jan. 18, 2024. Mr. Jorgenson makes some accurate observations — yet he attaches meanings to some of his facts that I suggest would benefit from additional information and discussion. Here’s my take:

While we surely have a substantial, viable population of grizzly bears, it is not, technically speaking, “out of control.” Grizzly bear populations, as with other large predators (lions, wolves) are biologically and ecologically self-limiting. But I will credit Mr. Jorgensen for meaning to say that in his opinion, we have more grizzly bears than we want or need; and I agree with him that it is up to us the citizenry, working through our government under current law, to determine and decide how to manage grizzly bears.

Under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) grizzly bears in Northwest Montana (the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem) have been listed as “threatened” (as contrasted with “endangered”) since 1975. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has determined that grizzlies of the Northern Continental Divide have attained the legally established species recovery goals. Currently, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is reviewing a petition from the State of Montana to remove from listing and federal protections (“delist”) Montana grizzly bears in both the Northern Continental Divide and the Greater Yellowstone ecosystems — another very large area in which recovery goals have been met — and thereby turn back management to the state of Montana under an already prepared plan. The plan includes limited hunting. But even if U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service delists Montana grizzlies, the issue may remain unresolved if there are legal challenges. My guess is that, ultimately, it will be settled by Congress, through legislation to delist. Congress did exactly that, a few years ago, concerning wolves. Now we can hunt wolves under state regulations that provide very liberal opportunities and harvest quotas.