Dear advocates of Grizzly Bears: 

This is an urgent advocacy request on behalf of grizzly bears; Please utilize the FWP’s open comment period (through March 17th) to object the killing rule, and protect isolated populations of bears. ESA protections currently protects all grizzlies throughout the lower 48 states. The 4(d) rule change to the ESA would remove protection outside of DPS areas, the boundaries of which are newly designated. Independent scientists criticize this rule in section 4(d) of the ESA; referred to the “killing rule”, restrictions would be lessened on the lethal management of grizzly bears where these bears come into conflict with communities or livestock”. While grizzlies remain protected under the ESA, the protections for isolated populations such as the Cabinet-Yaak grizzlies are severely reduced.

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Comments can be submitted through the federal portal at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FWS-R6-ES-2024-0186/document?withinCommentPeriod=true or by U.S. mail:  

Public Comments Processing 
Attn: FWS–R6–ES–2024–0186 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
MS: PRB/3W 
5275 Leesburg Pike 
Falls Church, VA 22041–3803 

Specific key points as summarized by the Yaak Valley Forest Council to include in comments:

Maintain protections for grizzly bears throughout their historic range:

• Oppose the revised 4(d) “killing” rule, which would allow killing bears within the DPS

Improve And Protect Grizzly Bear Habitat Conditions:

• Ensure protection of roadless areas and corridors between them. 

Minimize Threats to grizzly bears:

• Recognize that climate change, population growth, rural sprawl, energy development, road construction, and off-road vehicle use are degrading grizzly bear habitat and further isolating populations.  

Adopt Policies and Practices to Address Human Conflicts:

• Prioritize and fund bear-aware programs and encourage tolerance for sharing our environment with grizzly bears.  
• Support more tribal involvement. Honor their sacred relationship to the grizzly bear by acknowledging the signing of the historic Piikani Treaty. The Piikani Treaty (The Grizzly: A Treaty of Cooperation, Cultural Revitalization and Restoration) is a historic treaty, signed by over 130 First Nations and Tribes across North America, in October 2016, to pledge their dedication to protecting the grizzly bear.  

Reduce hunting and trapping conflicts:

• Regulate trapping to prevent injury or death of grizzly bears. Encourage the use of bear spray as opposed to firearms in chance encounters.  
• Increase Budgets for Enforcement and Improved Sanitation:
  Follow up on poaching and malicious killings of grizzly bears. 
  Educate communities on the need to secure attractants like garbage, chickens, bird feeders, and pet food to prevent grizzly bears from becoming habituated to humans and food sources. 

Please reach out to info@yaakvalley.org with questions. 

Further information can be found below:

https://yaakvalley.org/usfws-decision-keeps-federal-protections-but-allows-for-killing-measures/

https://yaakvalley.org/comments-needed-help-save-yaak-grizzlies/