The Trump administration is taking a closer look at grizzly bear management plans proposed by the previous administration.
That plan would condense protected grizzly bear population areas into a single distinct population, spanning thousands of acres in four states. Agriculture and hunting groups, as well as the governors of Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, are against it.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum was questioned on the matter.
“Having been a governor,” Burgum said, “I understand how dedicated the state Fish and Wildlife representatives are from Montana, from Wyoming, from North Dakota, South Dakota. I mean all of the folks as the Chair of Western Governors, I came to understand how dedicated those state officials are. I think there’s a belief that when they come off of federal protection that they’re unprotected. No! They’re managed as they are, all the other species in the state, by the locals, who have got the closest data. So yes, I pledge to work with you on this issue.”
The Trump administration has put a pause on public meetings while it reviews the grizzly bear plan. However, public comments are still being taken online.
