A baby grizzly bear stands on its mother’s back

A grizzly cub rides on its mother's back.

Ingo Arndt/NaturePL.com

The Fight to Protect Grizzlies

Yellowstone's grizzly bears are back on the endangered species list—for now.

As You Read, Think About: Why did the grizzly population in the Western U.S. start to drop in the 1800s?

Yellowstone National Park is known for its wildlife and natural wonders, like its famous geyser, Old Faithful. But America’s oldest national park is also at the center of a battle to save one of its most famous residents: the grizzly bear. 

Grizzlies were first considered endangered more than 30 years ago. The question now is whether they still should be—and not everyone agrees on the answer.

Yellowstone National Park is known for its wildlife and natural wonders. One of them is the famous geyser Old Faithful. But America’s oldest national park is also at the center of a battle. That battle involves one of the park’s most famous residents: the grizzly bear. 

Grizzlies were first considered endangered more than 30 years ago. The question now is whether they still should be. Not everyone agrees on the answer.

Nearly Gone

Grizzlies play an important role in their ecosystem. For example, they keep the numbers of other animals, such as elk, from getting out of control.

As many as 50,000 grizzlies once roamed the Western U.S. But in the 1800s, settlers began building houses and farms on the land where the grizzlies lived. This eliminated much of the grizzlies’ habitat. Also, ranchers shot the bears to protect their sheep and cattle, and hunters killed them for sport.

The grizzly population in the contiguous U.S. began to drop. By the early 1970s, fewer than 140 grizzlies were counted in and around Yellowstone National Park. (The park is located mostly in Wyoming but spreads into parts of Idaho and Montana.) 

Grizzlies play an important role in their ecosystem. For example, they keep the numbers of other animals, such as elk, from getting out of control.

As many as 50,000 grizzlies once roamed the Western U.S. But that started to change in the 1800s. Settlers began building houses and farms on the land where the grizzlies lived. This eliminated much of the grizzlies’ habitat. Also, ranchers shot the bears to protect their sheep and cattle. Hunters killed grizzlies for sport.

The grizzly population in the contiguous U.S. began to drop. By the early 1970s, fewer than 140 grizzlies were counted in and around Yellowstone National Park. (The park is located mostly in Wyoming but spreads into parts of Idaho and Montana.) 

Bouncing Back

To protect grizzlies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) added them to the endangered species list in 1975. The list was created as part of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which protects animals and plants that are in danger of becoming extinct. It’s illegal to kill or harm endangered species or to disturb their habitats. With the protection of the ESA, the population of Yellowstone grizzlies climbed to about 700. The bears began to wander into areas where they hadn’t been seen in years. 

The FWS hailed the bears’ recovery as a conservation success story. In 2007, it removed the Yellowstone grizzlies from the endangered species list. The decision was celebrated by hunters, as well as ranchers, who had reported more frequent bear attacks on their herds. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) wanted to protect the bears. The FWS added them to the endangered species list in 1975. The list was created as part of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). That law protects animals and plants that are in danger of becoming extinct. It’s illegal to kill or harm endangered species. It’s also illegal to disturb their habitats.

With the protection of the ESA, the population of Yellowstone grizzlies climbed to about 700. The bears began to wander into areas where they hadn’t been seen in years. 

The FWS hailed the bears’ recovery as a conservation success story. In 2007, it removed the Yellowstone grizzlies from the endangered species list. The decision was celebrated by hunters. It was also supported by ranchers. Many of them had reported more frequent bear attacks on their herds.  

Not Out of the Woods

But several conservation groups have fought the FWS’s decision in court for more than a decade. In July, they scored a victory—a federal court ruled that Yellowstone’s grizzlies must stay on the endangered species list.

Like all wildlife, grizzlies are protected inside Yellowstone Park. It’s what happens outside the park that has conservation groups concerned. Without the protection of the ESA, a bear could be legally hunted when it roams into neighboring areas. 

Sarah McMillan works for WildEarth Guardians, one of the conservation groups that challenged the FWS in court. She notes that many scientists say the bears should remain on the endangered species list until their population grows to at least 5,000. 

“It’s not that we just want grizzlies on the list,” McMillan explains. “I’d like to see them taken off, but only when they have truly recovered.”

But several conservation groups didn’t agree with the FWS’s 2007 decision. They have fought in court to have the decision changed for more than a decade. In July, they scored a victory. A federal court ruled that Yellowstone’s grizzlies must stay on the endangered species list.

All wildlife is protected inside Yellowstone Park. That includes grizzlies. It’s what happens outside the park that has conservation groups concerned. Without the protection of the ESA, a bear could be legally hunted when it roams into neighboring areas.

Sarah McMillan works for WildEarth Guardians. It is one of the conservation groups that challenged the FWS in court. She says the bears should remain on the endangered species list. She notes that many scientists say the grizzly population needs to grow to at least 5,000.

“It’s not that we just want grizzlies on the list,” McMillan explains. “I’d like to see them taken off, but only when they have truly recovered.”

1. Why did the grizzly bear population begin to decrease in the 1800s?

2. Describe the current debate over grizzly bears.

3. Based on the sidebar, how is the American alligator’s story similar to the grizzly bear’s story?

1. Why did the grizzly bear population begin to decrease in the 1800s?

2. Describe the current debate over grizzly bears.

3. Based on the sidebar, how is the American alligator’s story similar to the grizzly bear’s story?

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