HELENA — The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Montana District Court’s opinion to reinstate Endangered Species Act Protections for grizzly bears in the Yellowstone Region.
In 2017, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) delisted the bears, citing an increased population.
The court agreed with a prior ruling that the USFWS acted contrary to the best available science in its determination that grizzly bears near the park would no longer be listed as a threatened species.
The Yellowstone region of grizzly bears has over 700 animals, up from its historic low of about 100 animals when endangered species protections were implemented in 1975.
In the original case, opponents argued that the protections were no longer necessary and that a sport hunting season was justified to manage the bear population.
Conservation groups applauded the ruling as a victory in protecting the animals from trophy hunting.
