The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced on March 3 that it was proposing to remove grizzly bears within the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem from the federal endangered species list. The proposal comes after population and habitat monitoring efforts by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team estimated grizzly bears have increased from as few as 136 bears in the mid-1970s to 700 or more today, and they have doubled their range during the same timeframe. The FWS also released a draft supplement to the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan and a draft conservation strategy to ensure effective monitoring and management of the species.

"The recovery of the Yellowstone grizzly bear represents a historic success for partnership-driven wildlife conservation under the Endangered Species Act," said Service Director Dan Ashe. "Our proposal today underscores and celebrates more than 30 years of collaboration with our trusted federal, state and tribal partners to address the unique habitat challenges of grizzlies. The final post-delisting management plans by these partners will ensure healthy grizzly populations persist across the Yellowstone ecosystem long into the future."

The proposed rule is now published in the Federal Register and the agency will be accepting comments until May 10.