The Delisting of the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear

The Yellowstone grizzly bear has been protected for years. But according to a press release from the Outdoor Wire, the Department of the Interior (DOI) has announced the recovery of the species and that management of them will be turned over to the states once again.

Mike Demick, information supervisor for the Idaho Department of Fish & Game, is one of many excited about the news.

The delisting of Yellowstone grizzly bears is a conservation success, and we are proud of the role that the states and local communities have played in grizzly bear conservation, Demick said.

According to the report, the Yellowstone population rebounded from 136 bears in 1975 to approximately 700 today. Others are also expressing their excitement of the news.

"The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation supports the delisting of grizzly bears," said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. "It's been a long time coming and we think this is the appropriate move by Secretary Zinke and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service."

Secretary Zinke himself is proud of what wildlife officials have achieved over the last few decades.

"This achievement stands as one of America's great conservation successes; the culmination of decades of hard work and dedication on the part of the state, tribal, federal and private partners," said U.S, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. "As a Montanan, I'm proud of what we've achieved together."

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