Hageman Reintroduces Legislation to Delist Grizzly Bears
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Harriet Hageman announced the reintroduction of the Grizzly Bear State Management Act, legislation that directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) grizzly bear from the endangered species list. This effort marks a bold step by Congress to counteract years of federal lethargy and wildlife policy dictated by special-interest lobbyists under the Biden Administration. The Grizzly Bear State Management Act will remove federal protections for the GYE grizzly and return management authority to Wyoming and other affected states. Grizzly bear delisting has been a consistent priority for Rep. Hageman, who also included language to delist the grizzly in the recently passed Interior Appropriations Act.
“Federal officials at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, influenced by wildlife lobbyists, have disregarded recovery data and the unique needs of states like Wyoming for far too long,” said Rep. Hageman. “The Greater Yellowstone Grizzly has far exceeded its recovery goals, yet Washington bureaucrats continue to obstruct delisting with needless delays and politicized decisions. These desk activists aren’t the ones dealing with the realities of an overgrown grizzly population—Wyoming families are. With the grizzly population exploding, we’ve seen a troubling uptick in attacks on people, livestock, and property. Families shouldn’t have to live in fear of grizzly bears rummaging through their trash or endangering their children. My legislation addresses the concerns of the people of Wyoming that are being ignored by Washington.”
Background:
The GYE grizzly bear has been listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) since 1975. Its original recovery goal for Wyoming was set at 500 bears. Today, the population has more than doubled to 1,100 bears, far exceeding recovery benchmarks. Despite this success, federal agencies under the Biden Administration have delayed delisting for nearly two years, citing no factual basis for the decision. Rep. Hageman’s legislation seeks to correct this and ensure that state expertise drive species management moving forward.
Contact: Esteban Elizondo, Communications Director