Griz hearings canceled
A public meeting scheduled Wednesday in Coeur d'Alene on managing grizzly bears was canceled Monday by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
"In light of the recent transition and the need for this Administration to review the recent grizzly bear proposed rule, the Service is canceling all four of the public meetings and hearings that the agency voluntarily scheduled on this proposal," a press release said.
Other meetings scheduled in Missoula and Cody, Wyo., were also canceled, as was a virtual meeting.
The Biden administration announced earlier this month it would continue protecting about 2,000 grizzly bears in four Rocky Mountain states.
Federal officials also said they would reclassify the grizzly’s status so ranchers would be able to shoot bears that are killing livestock. Officials will end protections for the animals in states where they’re no longer found, including California, Colorado, New Mexico and Oregon.
The bears have been protected as a threatened species across the lower 48 states since 1975. Officials during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term sought to eliminate those protections but were blocked in court.
Republican officials in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming petitioned the Fish and Wildlife Service beginning in 2021 seeking to reclaim state management of the grizzly population. That would have opened the door to public hunts, although state officials said they would be limited and not endanger the overall population.
WildEarth Guardians based in New Mexico issued a statement after hearing of the cancelations.
“We are disappointed, but not shocked, that the new administration canceled its public hearings where people could voice their support for keeping federal grizzly bear protection in place under the Endangered Species Act.
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was right to reject petitions from the states of Montana and Wyoming to remove federal protections for grizzly bears. The new administration and state governments in the region have made it clear they want to drastically reduce grizzly bear populations — advocating for more dead bears even after a record number were already killed last year in and around Yellowstone National Park. Today’s announcement shows the Trump administration does not care about science and will listen only to industries and states that want to kill grizzly bears with impunity.
"Now is the worst time to weaken protections. Instead of rolling back safeguards, grizzly bears need science-based management that ensures they have a connected and resilient population. Strengthening habitat protections, prioritizing non-lethal conflict reduction and fostering natural population connectivity are essential steps toward real and lasting recovery."