News Release
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Posts Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Delisting Rule Peer Reviews
For Immediate Release
July 14, 2016
DENVER - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has received five independent peer reviews on the Yellowstone grizzly bear population proposed delisting rule. The peer reviewers all agree that the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) grizzly bear population is biologically recovered and the 2016 Conservation Strategy, which is the post-delisting management plan, is sufficient to maintain a recovered population.
An outside, third-party contractor selected the peer reviewers based on specific scientific expertise that the Service identified as being important for reviewing the analyses in our proposed rule. The peer reviewers were selected based on their knowledge of and experience in large carnivore ecology and management with expertise in one or more of the following categories: population ecology, management, demographics, conservation, and population genetics.
The peer reviews will be posted at http://www.regulations.gov, and can be accessed now at http://www.fws.gov/mountain- prairie/es/grizzlybear.php.
Once the Service receives the post-delisting management plans from the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, we plan to reopen the comment period so the public has an opportunity to comment on the proposed rule in light of both the peer reviews and the state plans.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service.
For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/. Connect with our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/USFWSMountainPrairie, follow our tweets at http://twitter.com/USFWSMtnPrairie, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmtnprairie/.
– FWS –
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Office of External Affairs
Mountain-Prairie Region
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www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/
Contacts
Serena Baker
serena_baker@fws.gov
(303) 236-4588
Steve Segin
robert_segin@fws.gov
(303) 236-4578