FWS also released an updated species status assessment, which compiles the best available scientific information on grizzly bear populations. The report, produced by FWS biologists in Montana, evaluates the grizzly’s future condition using conservation biology principles such as resiliency, redundancy, and representation—collectively referred to as the “3Rs.”
The agency’s proposed changes to the 4(d) rule aim to revise the grizzly bear’s listing in the Lower 48 states, encompassing Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming, where grizzly populations are expected to grow. The FWS also noted that distinct populations in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem do not qualify as valid population segments for delisting.
Environmental groups, including Earthjustice, praised FWS’s decision, noting that the best available science shows that grizzly bears have not fully recovered. Drew Caputo, vice president of litigation at Earthjustice, highlighted ongoing threats such as habitat loss, climate change, and human-wildlife conflict, pointing to a record number of grizzly bear deaths in 2024.
