A draft of a tri-state grizzly management and hunting practices agreement between Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming has been making the rounds on media sites, prompting outcry from some animal rights groups.
The memorandum plans for a possible delisting of the grizzly bear from the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It sets population goals, target mortality rates, and, most controversial, percentages of the management area outside the national parks that could possibly be used for hunting grizzlies. 58 percent of the hunt would occur in Wyoming.
Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, says it shows intent on Wyoming’s part.
"Well I think what it does for us is it shows their bias and their exuberance for delisting, when really we need a much more careful analysis," says Pacelle.
"That’s a misconception," says Renny Mackay, spokesman for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.
"The allocation between the three states is based on geography, because what we’re talking about and what the goals were for recovering grizzly bears were to recover them in this area around Yellowstone National Park, in this three state area," says Mackay.
Mackay says the draft actually shows the state is committed to grizzly conservation by closely monitoring populations. MacKay says nothing will occur until the Grizzly is delisted.
