Wildlife officials at Wyoming Department of Game and Fish instructed wildlife managers to prepare hunting regulations for the newly delisted grizzly bear.
The Department of Interior (DOI) delisted grizzly bears in June of 2017 announcing the recovery of the species after meeting all of the delisting criteria. It is estimated that there are 700 in the Yellowstone area today.
“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 Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. “As a Montanan, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together.”
The proposal of a hunting season will prove controversial. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation maintains that state wildlife agencies should manage grizzly bears just as they manage elk, mountain lions, deer, and other wildlife as per the North American Wildlife Conservation Model.