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Defenders Magazine
Defenders in Action: Yellowstone Grizzlies Move Off List
The Yellowstone grizzly bear population recently joined the short list of high-profile animals, including the peregrine falcon and the Great Lakes population of the gray wolf, that have successfully “graduated” from the federal endangered species list.
The number of grizzlies in the Yellowstone ecosystem has grown steadily since the animals were first listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1975—when only 200 survived.
Today there are nearly 600 grizzlies in the Yellowstone area. With proper management of habitat and food sources, scientists believe that chances are good there can be a healthy grizzly bear population in the region for the next 500 years. (Grizzly numbers elsewhere in the lower 48 states are much lower, and these animals will remain protected as a threatened species.)
“The Endangered Species Act has been the linchpin for grizzly bear recovery in Yellowstone,” says Jamie Rappaport Clark, Defenders’ executive vice president. “The responsibility now lies with the states and land management agencies to promote continued recovery of the species.”
Although the recovery is dramatic, Defenders has promised to remain vigilant to ensure that rollbacks in national forest protections by the Bush administration do not undermine the bear’s long-term recovery. Conservationists are concerned that the Bush administration might eliminate grizzly bear habitat protections as national-forest management plans in Yellowstone are revised. The administration’s continued efforts to weaken protection for roadless areas in national forests also may pose a threat to the bears.
“We believe that, if implemented properly, the conservation strategy and state plans will ensure the bear’s long-term survival, but only time will tell whether the government will live up to its commitment to protect habitat,” says Minette Johnson, northern Rockies representative for Defenders.
To foster grizzly bear recovery in the northern Rockies, in 1997 Defenders created The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Grizzly Compensation Trust, which pays livestock owners for the full market value of animals killed by grizzly bears. Defenders then established The Bailey Wildlife Foundation Proactive Carnivore Conservation Fund to help ranchers, government agencies, outfitters and others prevent livestock predation and human-bear conflicts. These innovative programs have helped increase the acceptance of large carnivores in western communities.
