The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee on Thursday voted unanimously to support the delisting of the grizzly bear population in the greater Yellowstone National Park area as an endangered species.
The motion was brought to the committee, a state-federal partnership of conservation agencies, by Wyoming Game and Fish Director Francis Petera."Delisting in no way diminishes the commitment of state and federal agencies to continue to ensure the survival of grizzly bear in Yellowstone," said Chris Servheen, principal scientific adviser to the committee. "Careful management and monitoring will continue whether the bear is listed or not."
Officials noted the purpose of the Endangered Species Act is to recover "and delist" species or distinct populations once recovery goals are met.
Officials expect a formal petition to delist the greater Yellowstone grizzly population will be developed in 1995. Public comment will be sought.
Grizzly bears in Montana and other states would remain listed.
In Bozeman, Mont., a spokesperson for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition said it would be foolish and "biologically unsound for (the federal government) to drop the ecosystem approach and delist grizzly bears for one state."