NE Wyoming News

Congresswoman Harriet Hageman has reintroduced the Grizzly Bear State Management Act, aiming to remove the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) grizzly bear from the endangered species list. The legislation intends to shift management authority from federal to state control, particularly for Wyoming and other states involved.

Hageman criticized federal officials, stating, “Federal officials at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, influenced by wildlife lobbyists, have disregarded recovery data and the unique needs of states like Wyoming for far too long.” She argued that despite exceeding recovery goals with a population now over 1,100 bears compared to an original goal of 500, delisting has been delayed by "Washington bureaucrats."

The congresswoman emphasized local impacts: “These desk activists aren’t the ones dealing with the realities of an overgrown grizzly population—Wyoming families are." She highlighted increased attacks on people and property as a growing concern.

Since being listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act in 1975, efforts to delist have faced delays. Hageman’s bill seeks to address these delays and prioritize state management expertise in future decisions.

Contact for further information is Esteban Elizondo, Communications Director.