Keep grizzlies protected, groups urge

BILLINGS, Mont. – Conservation groups on Tuesday challenged the federal government’s plan to remove Yellowstone-area grizzly bears from protection under the Endangered Species Act.

In March, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the removal of the grizzlies from the list of “threatened” animals effective April 30. The change would remove some federal protections and open the door to future public hunting of grizzlies for the first time in decades.

On Tuesday, eight groups notified Fish and Wildlife they intend to file a lawsuit in 60 days if the delisting is not reversed. The groups argue the 500 bears now living in and around Yellowstone National Park are too few to guarantee long-term survival of the population.