Grizzly Hunt Approved

Wyoming has approved its first hunt of grizzly bears in 44 years.
The hunt this fall will be the biggest in the lower 48 states since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed protections for grizzlies in the Yellowstone region in 2017. The hunt’s rules will allow up to 22 grizzlies to be killed in a wide area east and south of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission heard from hunt supporters and opponents before voting unanimously in favor of it Wednesday. Bonnie Rice with the Sierra Club told commissioners ahead of the vote that the hunt would be irresponsible. Rice said grizzlies still face a range of threats and allowing them to be hunted could set back conservation efforts by decades.
On the other side of the debate, Wyoming rancher and former Game and Fish commissioner Charles Price says hunting should be part of controlling grizzly bear numbers. He and other supporters say Wyoming’s grizzly population can easily sustain limited hunting.
Idaho has approved hunting one grizzly this fall. Montana has decided for now that it will not allow grizzly bear hunting.