Overview

• The grizzly bear population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has surpassed 700, meeting federal recovery goals set under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
• Efforts to delist the species in 2007 and 2017 were blocked by courts, with rulings emphasizing genetic connectivity and other factors.
• Political actors, including Senators John Barrasso and Steve Daines, advocate for state control over grizzly management, arguing federal oversight is outdated.
• Environmental groups like Earthjustice oppose delisting, citing concerns over political pressures overshadowing scientific evidence and risking long-term species survival.
• Scholars warn that the increasing politicization of wildlife management undermines the ESA’s science-driven foundation and threatens its future credibility.