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On Nov. 15, 2005, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced that grizzly bears have met all of their recovery objectives in the Yellowstone area and proposed to remove them from the list of threatened and endangered species. When they were listed in 1975, Yellowstone bears numbered less than 200. Now more than 600 roam the habitat, with a population that is growing 4-7 percent each year.

This recovery is a huge success story for the Endangered Species Act, America's most important wildlife conservation law, proving that grizzly bear recovery can occur when state and federal agencies work together to accomplish it.

The National Wildlife Federation supports the Yellowstone grizzly bear delisting proposal. "A key Endangered Species Act objective is to achieve self-sustaining populations in the wild," said Steve Torbit, director of NWF's Rocky Mountain Natural Resource Center in Denver. "That objective has been achieved in Yellowstone."

NWF has been instrumental in helping devise a strong management plan that will take effect following delisting, assuring that the Yellowstone grizzly bear population will continue to grow.

FWS is now accepting comments about the proposed delisting, which must be received by March 20, 2006.

By email:
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By mail:
Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
University Hall 309, University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812

Learn more about Yellowstone Grizzlies, the recovery plan, the role of the Endangered Species Act in this success, and also more about NWF's position and the work of our grizzly team.