Science-Based Grizzly Bear Management Act of 2023
The implications of HB 1364 extend to state and federal wildlife management laws, as it seeks to change the status of grizzly bear populations, which have been historically protected under the Endangered Species Act. By removing these populations from the endangered list, the bill suggests that they have recovered sufficiently in number. This change may lead to new state regulations concerning grizzly bear hunting, habitat management, and ecosystem interaction, affecting both conservation efforts and local economies relying on wildlife tourism.
House Bill 1364, known as the Science-Based Grizzly Bear Management Act of 2023, directs the Secretary of the Interior to remove the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population of grizzly bears and the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem population of grizzly bears from the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife. The bill mandates that these removals be executed within specific timeframes, specifically within 180 days after enactment. This legislation is notable for its straightforward directive to the Secretary, bypassing usual statutory protocols for reissuing rules pertaining to wildlife management.
The bill has sparked debates surrounding wildlife conservation and management ethics. Proponents, among them specific legislators from regions near the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems, advocate that grizzly bear populations have rebounded, making their continued listing as endangered unnecessary. Conversely, opponents warn that removing protections could lead to adverse effects on the grizzly populations and their habitats, stoking fears of mismanagement and declines in bear numbers, which could disrupt ecological balances in affected regions. The tension illustrates the diverging views on human management of wildlife and the balance between economic development and environmental sustainability.