The recovery of grizzly bears in the Northern Rockies stands as one of America’s greatest conservation success stories. Thanks to decades of collaborative efforts, the populations in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems have met—and in many cases exceeded—their recovery goals.
Now it’s time for policy to catch up with progress.
That’s why PERC, alongside the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Boone and Crockett Club, and Wyoming Wildlife Federation, submitted a public comment urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to finalize an improved version of the proposed 4(d) rule. Doing so would help reduce human-wildlife conflict, reward states for their recovery progress, and incentivize long-term conservation efforts.
At the same time, we encouraged the Service to reconsider its proposal to designate a single, wide-ranging population segment across four states. Such a move would delay delisting for decades and overlook the distinct progress already achieved in individual ecosystems.
Grizzly bear conservation should be a story of collaboration, not conflict. Our recommendations aim to empower state wildlife agencies and promote practical, science-based solutions to ensure the bear’s continued success.
