US Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes State-Led Grizzly Bear Management

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed a rule to transfer the management of grizzly bears in the contiguous United States from federal oversight to state and tribal authorities. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the proposal in Bozeman alongside the governors of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

Utilizing "4(d)" regulations of the Endangered Species Act, the proposal creates exceptions for taking bears—including harassing, harming, or killing them—without prior federal approval. While the rule does not remove grizzly bears from the Endangered Species list or authorize new hunting seasons, it enables state wildlife managers to respond more rapidly to livestock conflicts and problem bears.

Supporters, including Republican senators and agricultural groups, argue that the species has recovered sufficiently since 1975 to allow for local, science-based management. However, environmental organizations such as Earthjustice and Defenders of Wildlife have criticized the move as political, pointing to record bear mortality in 2025 and risks to habitat connectivity.