The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has announced that it will maintain protections for the grizzly bear in the lower 48 states under the Endangered Species Act, as Wyoming and Montana have petitioned to delist the grizzly bear and permit individual states to manage their populations. 

However, in the same statement, the USFWS also proposed making it easier for ranchers and cattle farmers to kill grizzly bears on both public and private lands. Your voice is essential to urge the USFWS not to permit the killing of grizzly bears, but rather to adopt measures that reduce conflicts between grizzly bears and cattle or sheep ranchers. 

Grizzly bears are highly valuable species within the ecosystem, known as indicator species. Healthy populations of grizzly bears indicate vibrant forests and balanced ecosystems. If the land can sustain the bear population, it is also suitable for supporting the human population.  

Moreover, as a keystone species, their presence fosters healthy and intact ecosystems. Grizzly bears help disperse seeds and fertilize forests and plant life, contributing to the planet's oxygen supply. Without the presence of keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different and could potentially cease to exist. To maintain balance on our planet, we need keystone species like the grizzly, as their presence serves as a barometer for a healthy ecosystem. 

Keeping the grizzly bear protections under the Endangered Species Act is crucial for their survival. Grizzly bears are known for having the slowest reproduction rates among mammals. According to the Humane Society of the United States, grizzly bears are not considered adults until they are between 4 to 8 years old. The interval between litters is 3 to 4 years, and the litter sizes are small.  Therefore, over a period of 10 years, from when a female and male grizzly reach sexual maturity and reproduction—assuming all of their cubs survive—their population would grow to only eight bears. In the early 19th century, grizzly bear populations were estimated at 50,000. Today, their population is estimated to be between 1,500 and 2,000. 

Each time an endangered species is allowed to be hunted, we lose an essential piece of our ecosystems, a fragment of our history and the natural landscape, and we also lose what it means to be humane.

Please click on this link to urge the USFWS not to allow the killing of grizzly bears but to instead adopt measures that reduce conflicts between grizzly bears and cattle or sheep ranchers.

Photo courtesy of John Thomas via Unsplash.