Governor Gianforte, Secretary Burgum Announce Grizzly Bear Management Returns to the States

Governor's Office

GALLATIN COUNTY, Mont. - Joined by Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Idaho Governor Brad Little, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, Governor Greg Gianforte today announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is publishing a proposed rule change that will give states more flexibility to manage grizzly bears in areas where the species has met or exceeded federal recovery benchmarks while preserving protections under the Endangered Species Act.

"Thanks to the work of Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and many Montanans over decades, the grizzly bear recovery story is one of America's great conservation successes," Gov. Gianforte said. "With this success has come a challenge - bears have expanded into new areas and conflicts have increased with farmers, ranchers, recreationists, and residents. Returning management to the states is a welcome change and Montana is ready to lead to balance conservation and the safety of our communities."

Gov. Gianforte, Sec. Burgum, Gov. Little, Gov. Gordon speaking during a press conference held at the Gallatin Wildlife Management Area

In 1975, the grizzly bear was listed as a threatened species in the lower 48 states (Lower 48) under the Endangered Species Act. When grizzlies were listed over 50 years ago, there were only a few hundred bears left in the Lower 48. Today, thanks to sustained conservation efforts by states, tribes, federal agencies, private landowners, and local communities, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports there are more than 2,000. In Montana, recovery goals for the species have been met or exceeded in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE).

The proposed rule change announced today is the first major management reform since grizzlies were listed. If finalized, the reformed rule would provide a tiered framework allowing Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) to have more flexibility in managing a federally listed species in areas where local populations are thriving.

"The science is more than clear: grizzly bears have recovered and far exceeded every federal recovery benchmarks. Today, Interior is returning conservation leadership to the Western states instead of Washington bureaucrats," said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. "Under the leadership of President Trump, we're following the science, upholding the law and ending politics masquerading as conservation."

The revised proposal supports the Trump administration's goal of reducing unnecessary regulatory complexity, empowering states and tribes and ensuring wildlife management decisions are practical, science-based and effective on the ground. The rule does not change the grizzly bear's listing status under the Endangered Species Act and does not affect existing experimental population designations.

As grizzly bear populations have increased, conflicts have also increased with farmers, ranchers, recreationists, and residents. In response, in December 2021, Gov. Gianforte petitioned the federal government to delist the grizzly bear in the NCDE. In February 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ruled Montana's petition to delist grizzly bears in the NCDE might be warranted which initiated further review but ultimately led to the Service's denial of Montana's petition to delist in January 2025.

FWP monitors grizzly bears in the NCDE with the best available science and a team of dedicated specialists. Although, to date, grizzly bears in the Lower 48 have remained under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, much of the day-to-day management is done by FWP's specialists who work with landowners and the public to address conflicts and increase safety and education in bear country.

"With a statewide management plan in place and our decades of on-the-ground experience, Montana is ready to take over management of grizzly bears," FWP Director Christy Clark said. "Our specialists follow the best available science and utilize existing relationships with ranchers, landowners, and recreationalists to maintain conservation efforts while supporting the communities that call grizzly bear country home."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reopening a 30-day public comment period on the revised proposed 4(d) rule. The revision updates a January 2025 proposal and focuses solely on the 4(d) provisions. The proposed rule, supporting documents, and instructions on how to participate in the public comment process can be found here .

A video of the announcement may be viewed here .

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