The state of Wyoming is heading back to court regarding grizzly bears, this time due to federal wildlife authorities missing a deadline for determining whether they would consider lifting Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections. In a press release filled with humor, state officials accused the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) of “hibernating” on the crucial deadline.
According to a statement from Governor Mark Gordon’s office, the petition aims to address the DOI’s inaction. Under federal guidelines, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is required to respond to petitions related to ESA protections within 12 months. In January 2022, Wyoming submitted a 27-page petition advocating for state management of Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzlies.

The Context of Grizzly Management in Wyoming
Grizzlies have been delisted from the ESA on two occasions, in 2007 and 2017, but both times, lawsuits from environmental advocacy groups reversed these decisions, despite Wyoming’s role as an intervenor. Currently, the grizzly population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has grown significantly, nearly doubling the recovery goal of 500 bears. However, federal scientists warn that the species is nearing its spatial limits for expansion.
State officials have expressed a willingness to employ “whatever means necessary” to gain management authority over grizzlies, potentially even bypassing the ESA through legislative action. Meanwhile, the USFWS acknowledged Wyoming’s January 2022 petition as credible and is set to conduct a “comprehensive status review”—an analysis that should ideally be completed within a year.
Why Grizzly Bear Management Is Controversial
Managing grizzly bears is a contentious issue because Ursus arctos horribilis symbolizes the wilderness for many and is considered a conservation triumph. The bear also holds significant cultural importance for some Native American communities. While some grizzlies are celebrated, they can pose challenges to human safety and property.
In previous instances, Wyoming sought to permit grizzly hunts when it had state management authority. If federal authorities approve the current petition for delisting, a renewed hunt is likely, with state wildlife managers expected to target three times the number of bears compared to earlier proposals.

Voices from the State and Federal Agencies
Filed on May 24 in the U.S. District Court of Wyoming, the state’s petition requests the court to compel the DOI to make a final determination regarding Wyoming’s delisting petition. Governor Gordon emphasized the missed 12-month deadline, stating, “It’s time for the agency to be held accountable.” Federal wildlife officials have yet to provide a clear update on their timeline for the petition. At a May meeting with Yellowstone-area grizzly managers, Hilary Cooley, the USFWS’s grizzly recovery coordinator, discussed the agency’s ongoing work to update data and scientific assessments, noting that once completed, the information would undergo peer review.
Next Steps in the Delisting Process
If the USFWS’s review of Wyoming’s petition yields a favorable outcome, the agency will propose a rule to delist grizzlies, who are currently listed as a threatened species under the ESA. This process would involve a final rule and several public comment periods before any potential change in grizzly management jurisdiction could occur.
Wyoming officials are eager to expedite this process. Attorney General Bridget Hill, who signed the state’s petition, has urged the court to allow the Fish and Wildlife Service one month to decide whether to pursue the delisting of grizzly bears.
Source : https://wyofile.com/wyoming-sues-over-feds-tardiness-on-grizzly-delisting-decision/