Zinke Applauds USFWS Decision on Grizzly Bears

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Ryan Zinke released the following statement applauding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's publication of a draft revision to the January 2025 4(d) rule that would give states greater flexibility to manage grizzly bears.

"This announcement is a long time coming and very good news for many communities and the wildlife within the Yellowstone ecosystem and across bear country," said Secretary Zinke. "Like the bald eagle before it, the recovery of the grizzly stands as one of America's great conservation success stories - the culmination of decades of hard work and dedication on the part of the state, tribal, federal, and private partners. As a Montanan and former Secretary of the Interior who started this process, I'm proud of what we've achieved together. I trust our state wildlife professionals in managing the bear population according to the best science going forward, as they do all our wildlife."

Background

Since serving as Secretary of the Interior and throughout his time in Congress, Zinke has led efforts to delist recovered grizzly bear populations and return management authority to Montana and other western states.

• In June 2017, as Secretary of the Interior, Zinke announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's final rule delisting the recovered Greater Yellowstone grizzly population.
• In February 2023, Zinke joined Rep. Harriet Hageman in introducing H.R. 1245, the Grizzly Bear State Management Act, to reinstate the 2017 delisting rule.
• In July 2023, Zinke secured House Appropriations Committee approval of his amendment to delist Greater Yellowstone grizzlies in the FY24 Interior Appropriations bill.
• In February 2025, Zinke led a congressional letter urging President Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to reverse Biden-era grizzly policies and return management authority to the states.
• In July 2025, Zinke secured language in the FY26 Interior Appropriations bill directing the delisting of the Greater Yellowstone, Northern Continental Divide, and Bitterroot populations.

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