Scientists want protection of grizzlies to stay

BILLINGS, Mont. – More than 250 scientists and researchers have signed a letter opposing a federal proposal to lift Endangered Species Act protection for grizzly bears in the Yellowstone ecosystem.

They contend, among other things, that there are genetic concerns, inadequate habitat protection and too few bears to merit lifting federal protection.

The letter, dated Monday, was addressed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s grizzly bear recovery coordinator, Chris Servheen, who could not be reached immediately for comment.

Monday marked the end of an extended comment period on the federal “delisting” proposal for Yellowstone-area grizzlies.

The Fish and Wildlife Service proposed in November removing federal protection for the Yellowstone population, declaring the bears have recovered. The agency said the grizzly population in the Yellowstone ecosystem has grown 4 percent to 7 percent a year since the mid-‘90s. It estimated the population totals more than 600 bears.

But the scientists and researchers, in their letter, said an isolated population of 500 to 600 bears does not constitute a biologically recovered one. .”