Grizzly lawsuit: HSUS takes on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over delisting

Last Tuesday, the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) announced it and its affiliate The Fund for Animals had launched a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). According to HSUS’ announcement, the lawsuit alleges USFWS violated the Endangered Species Act and the Administrative Procedures Act when it delisted the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) distinct population segment of grizzly bears back in June. The announcement of the lawsuit brings up trophy hunting as a possible specter in the bears’ future. As has been reported in WLJ in the past, it is only the GYE grizzly bears that have been delisted. Their management now falls to the involved states and tribal governments. All three of the involved states have conservation and management plans for the bears, which do mention hunting as a management option. There have been no immediate plans to begin a hunting season or issue permits, however, and hunting within the area’s national parks would be illegal. Grizzly bears in other locations across the country are still under federal protection. Grizzly populations within the GYE have been stable for roughly four decades.