Fish & Wildlife Service Appeals Grizzly Listing

The Fish and Wildlife Service has filed an appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of a lower court decision overturning the delisting of the Yellowstone grizzly population. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, March 22, 2007, ruled that the Yellowstone distinct population segment of grizzly bears was a recovered population no longer meeting the Endangered Species Act's definition of threatened or endangered. On September 21, 2009, the U.S. District Court for Montana in Missoula overturned the delisting of the Greater Yellowstone Area grizzly population, returning the bear to a threatened population status under the act. The Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Justic and the Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee all disagree with federal District Judge Donald Molloy's ruling. They say the delisting the Yellowstone grizzly population was appropriate and scientifically sound. "The Yellowstone grizzly population is increasing at 4 to 7 percent per year and is recovered, and the agencies are committed to spending more than $3 million per year to maintain this healthy, recovered population," said Chris Servheen, grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the Fish and Wildlife Service. "The state, federal, county and tribal members of the Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee are united in their support for delisting and are committed to maintaining the long-term health of the Yellowstone grizzly population." Steve Schmidt, subcommittee chairman and Idaho Fish and Game regional supervisor in the Upper Snake Region. Subcommittee members say that legal action to obstruct recovery efforts for grizzly bears only serves to erode public support for species conservation and also reduces public support for the Endangered Species Act. The appeal process began August 9 and is expected to take 12 to 18 months.