endangered species act Archives - Endangered Species Coalition

Trump Administration Declares a War on Wildlife with Nomination of Brian Nesvik

Endangered Species Coalition — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 17:01:01 +0000

Last week, the Senate confirmed Brian Nesvik as Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While his appointment was endorsed by some within the traditional wildlife community, the Endangered Species Coalition and numerous conservation partners strongly opposed his confirmation based on his track record of undermining federal protections for imperiled wildlife and prioritizing extractive interests over science-based recovery.

Brian Nesvik has long championed efforts that weaken the Endangered Species Act (ESA), including campaigns to prematurely delist gray wolves, eliminate habitat protections, and sideline federal oversight, all while serving the interests of politically powerful industries in the West. His approach reflects the same harmful ideology behind recent legislative attacks like the ESA Amendments Act (H.R. 1897), which aims to hollow out the Endangered Species Act.

The Endangered Species Act is one of our nation’s most successful and beloved environmental laws. It has prevented the extinction of more than 99% of listed species — from bald eagles to gray whales — and remains a beacon of bipartisan conservation. What imperiled wildlife need now is a science-driven leader committed to recovery, not one who pushes states to sidestep federal accountability and science.

We are not alone in our concerns. Organizations across the country, including Wyoming Wildlife Advocates, Western Watersheds Project, WildEarth Guardians, Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, and GreenLatinos, stood firmly against this nomination. These are frontline groups who have seen the real impacts of policies that erode protections, fragment habitats, and put species on a collision course with extinction.

In the words of our Executive Director, Susan Holmes:

“The Endangered Species Act only works when science leads the way. Political appointees who disregard habitat science, suppress recovery recommendations, or champion premature delisting put our most vulnerable wildlife at grave risk. This confirmation is a setback — but our fight to defend endangered species is far from over.”

We remain committed to holding the Fish and Wildlife Service accountable and to protecting the integrity of the Endangered Species Act against political interference. We urge members of Congress and the public to stand with us and with the science to ensure the future of America’s most at-risk species.

What our partners are saying:

“Nesvik has a track record of favoring industries over wildlife. Ranching and agriculture and extracted industries get all the concessions here in Wyoming,” said Kristin Combs, Executive Director of Wyoming Wildlife Advocates. “There’s no reason to think that it would be any different at the federal level.”

“Rather than ensuring the survival of America’s most at-risk wildlife, Nesvik’s history suggests he will do the opposite—greenlighting more destruction, more killing, and more habitat loss,” said Joanna Zhang, endangered species advocate at WildEarth Guardians. “WildEarth Guardians and our allies will fight every step of the way to hold this administration accountable and protect our nation’s wildlife from this disastrous leadership.”

“Nesvik’s lackadaisical response to the tormenting of that young Wyoming wolf speaks volumes about his lack of care for wildlife,” said Stephanie Kurose, Center for Biological Diversity Deputy Director of Government Affairs. “But his larger record truly underscores how deeply he despises the Fish and Wildlife Service’s fundamental mission. Most Americans want our imperiled wildlife protected, but we can’t count on Nesvik to lift a finger to prevent extinction.”

“Nesvik’s tenure as head of Wyoming Game and Fish prioritized trophy hunts and weakened protections for imperiled species over scientifically sound wildlife management,” said Bradley Williams, Sierra Club’s Deputy Legislative Director for Wildlife and Lands Protection. “One of the USFWS most important roles is upholding the Endangered Species Act, and given his experience, it’s not clear whether Nesvik will be able to fulfill that duty. Unfortunately, it appears that wildlife will pay the price.”

“California’s national wildlife refuges are a cornerstone of Latino communities’ access to nature and biodiversity,” said Pedro Hernandez, California State Program Manager for GreenLatinos. “Our refuge system and successful Endangered Species Act implementation have supported California as a global biodiversity hotspot. Yet, Brian Nesvik’s nomination risks years of progress and his track record threatens to roll back the clock to a time when our refuge system was even more under-resourced and dominated by extractive interests. Our communities can’t afford leadership that deprioritizes science, equity, species protections and ecological integrity.”

“Brian Nesvik has repeatedly used state power to undermine the very laws he’s now charged with upholding. His confirmation as Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a gift to extractive industries and a threat to imperiled species across the West,” said Josh Osher, Public Policy Director for Western Watersheds Project. “From sanctioning wolf slaughter to promoting unsustainable livestock grazing on public lands, Nesvik has consistently prioritized industry profits over ecological integrity. We need leadership rooted in science and recovery — not someone who treats the Endangered Species Act as an obstacle to be dismantled.”

“Nesvik has a track record of favoring industries over wildlife. Ranching and agriculture and extracted industries get all the concessions here in Wyoming,” said Kristin Combs, Executive Director of Wyoming Wildlife Advocates. “There’s no reason to think that it would be any different at the federal level.”

“Rather than ensuring the survival of America’s most at-risk wildlife, Nesvik’s history suggests he will do the opposite—greenlighting more destruction, more killing, and more habitat loss,” said Joanna Zhang, endangered species advocate at WildEarth Guardians.

“WildEarth Guardians and our allies will fight every step of the way to hold this administration accountable and protect our nation’s wildlife from this disastrous leadership.”

“Nesvik’s lackadaisical response to the tormenting of that young Wyoming wolf speaks volumes about his lack of care for wildlife,” said Stephanie Kurose, Center for Biological Diversity Deputy Director of Government Affairs. “But his larger record truly underscores how deeply he despises the Fish and Wildlife Service’s fundamental mission. Most Americans want our imperiled wildlife protected, but we can’t count on Nesvik to lift a finger to prevent extinction.”

“Nesvik’s tenure as head of Wyoming Game and Fish prioritized trophy hunts and weakened protections for imperiled species over scientifically sound wildlife management,” said Bradley Williams, Sierra Club’s Deputy Legislative Director for Wildlife and Lands Protection. “One of the USFWS most important roles is upholding the Endangered Species Act, and given his experience, it’s not clear whether Nesvik will be able to fulfill that duty. Unfortunately, it appears that wildlife will pay the price.”

“California’s national wildlife refuges are a cornerstone of Latino communities’ access to nature and biodiversity,” said Pedro Hernandez, California State Program Manager for GreenLatinos. “Our refuge system and successful Endangered Species Act implementation have supported California as a global biodiversity hotspot. Yet, Brian Nesvik’s nomination risks years of progress and his track record threatens to roll back the clock to a time when our refuge system was even more under-resourced and dominated by extractive interests. Our communities can’t afford leadership that deprioritizes science, equity, species protections and ecological integrity.”

“Brian Nesvik has repeatedly used state power to undermine the very laws he’s now charged with upholding. His confirmation as Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a gift to extractive industries and a threat to imperiled species across the West,” said Josh Osher, Public Policy Director for Western Watersheds Project. “From sanctioning wolf slaughter to promoting unsustainable livestock grazing on public lands, Nesvik has consistently prioritized industry profits over ecological integrity. We need leadership rooted in science and recovery — not someone who treats the Endangered Species Act as an obstacle to be dismantled.”

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Over 150,000 Americans Oppose Trump Administration’s Unprecedented Effort to Eliminate Habitat Protections for Vulnerable Wildlife

Endangered Species Coalition — Mon, 19 May 2025 17:30:00 +0000

Scientists, legal experts, and environmental groups also urge Trump administration to drop proposed rule

WASHINGTON D.C. — Over 150,000 Americans have opposed a proposed rulemaking by the Trump administration to eliminate major habitat protections for endangered species in the U.S. after it was unveiled in April — and as the period for public input concludes today. The proposed rule would rescind the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s and National Marine Fisheries Service’s definitions of what counts as illegal “harm” to threatened and endangered wildlife under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

“Harm” is currently defined to include significant habitat modification that kills or injures species by removing necessities such as food and shelter. The current definition of “harm” is an important tool for habitat conservation that has been in place for over 40 years and was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1995.

It has been integral to the ESA’s role in saving more than 99 percent of species under its protection including the bald eagle, Florida manatee, gray wolf, and many other iconic American wildlife. Even with the incredible success of the ESA, over 90 percent of listed species remain threatened by human-caused habitat destruction. If anything, the case for habitat protection under the ESA has grown even stronger over the years, with mountains of scientific evidence linking habitat and species’ survival.

The ESA was passed by Congress in 1973 with virtually unanimous bipartisan support. The lawmakers behind the ESA knew that scientists — not politicians — should decide whether vulnerable animal and plant species should be protected. In their spirit, three U.S. senators have officially demanded that the Trump administration explain how it came to its determination to eliminate habitat protections for U.S. wildlife and to answer whether industry influence was involved.

Additionally, a group of the nation’s leading scientists and experts on wildlife sent a letter to the Trump administration urging it to abandon the proposed rule, which the scientists state “lacks any scientific basis and misinterprets the Endangered Species Act.” And 25 legal scholars expressed “vehement opposition” to the proposed rule in a letter to the administration. The outpouring of public opposition to the proposed rule change is no surprise. Over 80 percent of Americans support the ESA. Most Americans know how important conserving habitats, lands, and waters are to our everyday lives and that protecting them should be a national priority. The stakes aren’t limited to wildlife — when ecosystems degrade, people suffer from threats to clean water, food security, and public health.

In response to the tens of thousands of Americans who are calling on the Trump administration to abandon its effort to eliminate habitat protections for vulnerable wildlife, 131 environmental and animal welfare groups from across the country issued the following statements:

“Tens of thousands of Americans have rejected the Trump administration’s callous effort to steal habitat away from our endangered species,” said Earthjustice attorney Kristen Boyles. “Trump’s proposed rule recklessly ignores common sense and common science. We’ll do all that we can to ensure vulnerable wildlife continue to have a livable habitat and a chance at survival.”

“Wildlife cannot survive without habitat — that’s not opinion, that’s biology,” said Josh Osher, public policy director for Western Watersheds Project. “This proposed rule is an industry-crafted blueprint for extinction, designed to let corporations destroy the very ground endangered species stand on, while pretending no harm is being done.”

“Loving wildlife is baked into our national heritage. Americans are very proud that our nation has prioritized conserving birds, fish and other wildlife that make our country so special,” said Ramona McGee, leader of the Southern Environmental Law Center’s Wildlife Program. “Here in the South, the stakes are much higher because of our world-renowned biodiversity, which is increasingly at risk from human-made factors like habitat destruction from unchecked, harmful development. It is unconscionable that our leaders are unnecessarily attempting to remove vital wildlife and habitat protections to placate extractive industries.” 

“This nonstarter proposal ignores critical conservation provisions in a law that supports America’s most at-risk fish, wildlife, and plant populations, including over 600 species with habitat in our national parks,” said Christina Hazard, legislative director for the National Parks Conservation Association. “When food sources, nesting grounds or mating grounds are lost outside of national park boundaries, park wildlife will be lost as well.”

“Habitat integrity is among the most significant determinants of species’ survival; this rule change would jeopardize imperiled animals and entire ecosystems,” said Danielle Kessler, US Country Director at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). “Effective, science-driven implementation of the Endangered Species Act–including habitat protection–benefits animals and people alike.”

“The Trump administration is attempting to dismantle and discredit one of America’s most popular and successful laws,” said Sierra Weaver, senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife. “The current definition of ‘harm’ is a large part of what has made the ESA so effective at conserving imperiled species. This isn’t just redefining one word — it is gutting the heart of the Act. It will have cataclysmic consequences to the habitats, lands and waters that America’s wildlife relies upon, and goes against Congress’ intent for the law.”

“Extinction is forever,” says Katherine Miller, Country Director for FOUR PAWS USA. “If we allow the ESA to be weakened and species’ habitats to be destroyed for profit, the consequences of these decisions will reverberate for generations. Science has shown that protecting a listed species’ habitat is vital to their survival and recovery. This is why we urge FWS and NMFS to withdraw their proposed rule and uphold America’s commitment to save endangered species, ensuring a livable planet for all of us.”

“Loss of habitat is the number one reason species become endangered,” said Susan Holmes, Executive Director of the Endangered Species Coalition. “Trump’s draconian proposal to end habitat protection for our most vulnerable wildlife rips out the heart of the Endangered Species Act and would put countless species on the path to extinction.”

“The Services’ proposal shows they are not serious about protecting imperiled species,” said Rebecca Riley, managing director for Food & Agriculture at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “Habitat destruction is the number one threat to species’ survival, and yet they are coming up with weak excuses to claim Congress didn’t intend to address this existential threat.”

“Trump’s smash-and-grab habitat plan could welcome bulldozers and drilling rigs into the beautiful wild places that America’s most imperiled animals call home,” said Tara Zuardo, a senior campaigner at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The administration’s proposal seeks to rip a bloody hole in the Endangered Species Act, prioritizing industry profits over protecting habitat that’s crucial to preventing extinction. This is an illegal attempt to nullify a landmark wildlife law that’s supported by nearly every American who isn’t an oil executive, a timber baron or a Trump appointee.”

“Piping Plovers were set on a path to extinction due to millinery and hunting at the turn of the 19th century,” said Chris Allieri, founder and executive director, NYC Plover Project. “These are not the challenges the species is currently facing. The number one threat today is habitat loss, wherever they are found, including their wintering and breeding ranges. Without habitat protection, this species, and countless more, will go extinct.”

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A Call to Action: Becoming an ESA Champion

Dalton George — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 18:02:24 +0000

ESA Champions Training

With the results of the recent elections, our endangered wildlife needs champions more than ever before. Wolves, monarchs, grizzlies, and the plants, fish, and wildlife we share space with need champions who will fight to secure biodiversity for future generations and protect so many different species that we and our communities hold dear.

But, you don’t have to work in a non-profit, have a degree in something environmental, or be an elected official to be an Endangered Species Act Champion. To ensure protections like the Endangered Species Act are upheld during this critical time, we need everyday folks to embrace being an “ESA Champion.”

In fact, the ESA is facing its first hurdle on February 26th. In a hearing on our national wildlife laws, Members of Congress will argue for overturning the ESA, spewing lies and disinformation. If we don’t show strong public support for the ESA during this initial challenge, that could spell disaster for our beloved wildlife.

This training will prepare you to call your legislators and mobilize your friends to ensure that those in Congress know we want the ESA properly defended ahead of these hearings.

RSVP to join the first virtual meeting to learn how you can protect endangered species.

That’s why at Endangered Species Coalition, we’re excited to share that we’ll be launching a virtual call series in which we’ll train anyone who’s interested in the skills necessary to defend the Endangered Species Act and endangered species across the country. The first of these calls will take place on February 18th at 7:00 PM ET

and is designed to be accessible and most importantly, to give you and other wildlife advocates a chance to share a space centered around action. Those who plan to attend should come ready to participate actively.

Thank you for your interest and please email me at dalton@endangered.org with any questions.

Sincerely,

Dalton George
National Grassroots Organizer
Endangered Species Coalition

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Remembering Grizzly 399 – The Queen of the Tetons

Endangered Species Coalition — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 20:42:36 +0000

Grizzly 399 was far more than “just a bear.” She was legendary. She became a symbol of resilience, beauty, and the wild spirit of the Teton Range. Her passing marks the end of an era, and it is with a deep sense of reverence that we reflect on her remarkable story.

Purchase a Grizzly 399 memorial shirt through FLOAT through the end of the year and $8 from your purchase will directly support our work to keep these majestic bears protected.

Grizzly 399, often referred to as the “Queen of the Tetons,” captivated the hearts of many who were fortunate enough to witness her majestic presence. She was not only one of the most photographed bears in North America but also a mother of extraordinary resilience. Born in the wilds of the Teton wilderness, 399’s journey was one of survival, motherhood, and the complex relationship between humans and wildlife.

She was born in 1996 and came to be the bear we know today in 2006, when she first rose to prominence as a young mother with her three cubs. She navigated the challenges of motherhood in a landscape that was both perilous and beautiful. Over the years, 399 became a familiar face in the Teton National Park and the surrounding areas, often seen with her cubs, teaching them the ways of the wild. Her ability to thrive in such a challenging environment became a testament to the strength and intelligence of the grizzly bear. Despite the dangers she faced, including human encounters and changing landscapes, Grizzly 399 remained an enduring figure.

Memorialize 399’s legacy and help to keep grizzly bears across the West protected under the Endangered Species Act with your shirt purchase through FLOAT. This is only available for a limited time and your purchase directly supports the Endangered Species Coalition’s work to keep bears protected.

Her legacy is not just one of survival but of connection. 399 fostered an incredible awareness about wildlife conservation, helping to foster a greater respect for the need to protect grizzly bears and their habitats. Her unique relationship with the public also highlighted the importance of responsible wildlife viewing, education, and conservation efforts.

While we will deeply miss Grizzly 399, her legacy lives on in the hearts of those who admired her, and in the ongoing conservation efforts that will ensure the protection of her kin and the Teton ecosystem.

Join us in honoring and celebrating Grizzly 399 with your shirt purchase through FLOAT this week. The proceeds from the sale of this shirt directly support the Endangered Species Coalition’s work to keep grizzly bears protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Thank you for your commitment to wildlife and wild places.

Sincerely,

Susan Holmes
Executive Director

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Protect Endangered Species in a Changing Landscape

Endangered Species Coalition — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 13:03:28 +0000

The return of Donald Trump and the election of a new Congress could weaken the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act and the critical protections it provides. The stakes truly have never been higher.

That’s why today, on Giving Tuesday,we urgently ask you to join our Wolf Pack with a monthly commitment and help power the fight to protect these essential safeguards each and every day over the next four years. As a founding donor, your contribution will be matched 2:1, effectively tripling your impact.

We’re expecting even more devastating rollbacks to environmental protections–as we did in Trump’s first term. The removal of safeguards for endangered and vulnerable species and dismantling of vital regulations will impact not only the species we care about the most, but the ecosystems that depend on them

Your support will allow us to challenge harmful policy changes and fight back against regulatory rollbacks by:

– Mobilizing advocacy efforts in Congress and state legislatures to protect endangered species laws

– Supporting grassroots campaigns that push for real environmental reform

– Educating and activate the public to ensure that wildlife protection remains a priority

Now, more than ever, we must remain vigilant and proactive. Our fight is urgent—and it is one that we are prepared for. But we need your help.

Your recurring support is vital to ensure we have the resources to push back daily, deliberately, and relentlessly over the next four years to fight for the Endangered Species Act and the wildlife it protects.

If a recurring commitment is not a good fit for you, a one-time gift is deeply appreciated and will keep us in the fight to save species.

The Endangered Species Coalition was founded on protecting endangered species through our advocacy, mobilizing, and organizing – We are built for this fight. With you by our side we can do this. Together we are stronger!

Sincerely,

Susan Holmes
Executive Director
Endangered Species Coalition
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Photo credit William C. Gladdish

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Endangered Species Need Us Now: Join Us to Fight for Wildlife

Endangered Species Coalition — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 20:45:05 +0000

I am heartbroken, and I expect you are, too. The election result is a devastating blow for the wild, and I don’t want to sugarcoat it.

January of 2025 will mean a new president and a new Senate majority hostile to wildlife. We know a barrage of attacks is coming to wolves, whales, salmon, and grizzlies. The Endangered Species Act is on the chopping block. In 2024 alone there have been 138 legislative attacks on the Endangered Species Act–second only to the Affordable Care Act–and we know the President-Elect has the ESA in his sights.

Make a gift today to protect endangered and threatened species.

The way we beat those attacks and protect the bears, wolves, whales, bees, and plants that we all love is through organizing. We are strongest when we come together. Yesterday we convened our first post-election meeting for our amazing member groups. There was anxiety but also resolve. We are not backing down. Together we are a powerful community. Each of us–organizers, activists, and everything in between–are going to be needed in the months to come.

Since its founding, the Endangered Species Coalition has been the grassroots arm for biodiversity movement and led the fight to safeguard the Endangered Species Act. It has successfully fought back attacks on the Endangered Species Act from the Reagan Administration to today. It led the fight to save the Act during the last Trump Administration. We push every administration–regardless of political party–to protect endangered species and the wild places that they call home. We bring more than 400 organizations and hundreds of thousands of activists like you and me together to strategize, to mobilize, to organize and to make real gains for wildlife. We know that organizing works. Our most influential laws would not be here without the work of grassroots organizers. When we come together, we can win.

Please join us in the fight for wildlife. Make a one time or monthly gift to maximize your impact to protect wildlife at this most critical time.

I believe in the power of nature, and in the power of this community.

Thank you for your commitment to wildlife and wild places.

In partnership,

Susan Holmes
Executive Director
Endangered Species Coalition
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Medium

Photo credit National Park Service

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Honoring Pete McCloskey — Endangered Species Champion

ESC — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 20:34:58 +0000

By Susan Holmes, Executive Director

Pete McCloskey, a Republican member of Congress, co-author of the Endangered Species Act, longtime Endangered Species Coalition supporter, and member of our Advisory Board, passed away on May 8th at the age of 94.

A liberal Republican who represented an area south of San Francisco for fifteen years, Pete rose to national prominence in 1969 as an opponent of the Vietnam War. Bold and visionary, the following year, he co-authored the Endangered Species Act (Rep. Dingell was lead and Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Fish and Wildlife; Pete was the Ranking member) and co-founded Earth Day. During his time in Congress he was a champion for many strong environmental laws, including the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts.

But what I love most about Pete is that he made protecting the environment and endangered species a winning political issue. In his first race – a special primary against the childhood actor Shirley Temple Black – Pete won by mobilizing young voters in support of open space protection and the environment.

I first met Pete when he came out of retirement in 2006 to run a campaign to unseat Representative Richard Pombo, Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee. Pombo had pledged to weaken the ESA and we knew that if he returned to Congress wildlife protections were on the chopping block. Although Pete lost the primary challenge to Pombo, he succeeded in winning 32% of the vote on a conservation platform. He went on to endorse Representative Jerry McNerney, a Democrat, who then defeated Pombo. The Sierra Club recognized Pete in 2006 for his work to unseat Pombo with their highest honor for public officials, the Edgar Wayburn Award.

Pete McCloskey wrote for the 40th Anniversary of the ESA, “…I consider co-authorship of the Endangered Species Act as the greatest contribution I have made in my lifetime to the welfare of this nation.” Thank you Pete! Endangered species, from alligators to whooping cranes, and all of us are so grateful for your life and legacy!

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Celebrate Grizzly Moms by Keeping Them Protected Under the Endangered Species Act

ESC — Wed, 08 May 2024 13:56:21 +0000

Spring is one of the most rewarding times to be a conservationist and animal advocate. The natural world begins to emerge and remind us all just what it is that we fight so hard to protect.

One of my favorite examples of this is the grizzly bear mom known by her scientific name as Grizzly 399. She was born in 1996 and has had four litters of cubs. Her 28 years have inspired thousands of conservationists around the world–thanks in large part to her preference for rearing her cubs near Grand Teton National Park in often public view. Don’t mistake that for complacency, however. 399 is unquestionably a doting mother and, like most moms, very protective of her cubs.

This week of Mother’s Day, join us in honoring 399 and her commitment to her cubs by helping to keep her–and all grizzly bears–safe and protected under the highly-successful Endangered Species Act.

Please sign the petition to tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that these bears need those protections.

Grizzly bears are part of our unique wildlife heritage, but some Western politicians and government bureaucrats are hostile to grizzly bears and other carnivores. Grizzly bears are beginning to recover from a century of persecution and habitat loss, but now is not the time to remove protections. We need to keep safeguards in place until the science shows grizzly bears are fully recovered, and until the states have adequate rules in place to ensure grizzly bears will thrive for future generations.

Grizzly 399 and her most-recent cub were spotted emerging from a late hibernation just weeks ago. While she carries out the very difficult task of raising her cub, please help to keep her and bears like her safe. Please add your name to the petition to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service asking them to maintain existing Endangered Species Act protections for grizzly bears.

Thank you for your commitment to wildlife and wild places.

Sincerely,

Susan Holmes
Executive Director
Endangered Species Coalition
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Medium

https://www.mangelsen.com/grizzly
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/04/22/shes-awake-grizzly-399-and-gigantic-cub-emerge-from-hibernation/

Grizzly 399 and cubs photo by StevenPDeVries – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91360764

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Grizzly Bears are Returning to the North Cascades Ecosystem of Washington State

John Rosapepe — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 15:55:42 +0000

I am reminded of Crosby Stills and Nash’s lyrics “It’s been a long time coming,” with the National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service recent announcement of a record of decision to actively restore grizzly bears to the North Cascades Ecosystem of Washington State.

Grizzly bears roamed the North Cascades Ecosystem for thousands of years until hunting and trapping extinguished them from the landscape. The last know grizzly bear in the ecosystem was sighted in 1996.

Grizzly sow and cubs near Roaring Mountain | Credit NPS

The Endangered Species Coalition and our members have long advocated for their reintroduction. We, along with other local and national groups, made our voices heard for their return in hearings during the Trump years until that administration shut down agency attempts to restore the bears.

When the US Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park restarted the process of possible reintroduction two years ago we were ready. Our members: testified at local hearings, wrote newspaper letters to the editor, helped educate local communities about how we can coexist with grizzlies, contacted our Washington congressional representatives and governor, and submitted over 7,500 comments to the draft environment statement on grizzly bear reintroduction.

Agencies will seek to move three to seven grizzly bears per year for a period of five to 10 years to establish an initial population of 25 bears.

Under the decision, grizzly bears in the North Cascades will be designated as a nonessential experimental population under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act.

The designation is based on extensive community engagement and conversations will provide authorities and land managers with additional tools for management that would not otherwise be available under existing Endangered Species Act regulations.

If all goes well there is a possibility that come fall we could have paws on the ground in the North Cascades.

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In a Major Victory for Wildlife, Grizzly Bears May Soon Roam North Cascades Again

Endangered Species Coalition — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:16:40 +0000

March 15, 2024 – The Friends of the North Cascades Grizzly Bear Coalition celebrates today as federal agencies greenlight a plan to bring grizzly bears back to the North Cascades Ecosystem.

The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have announced the final environmental impact statement and grizzly bear reintroduction plan. The agencies’ decision to restore grizzlies to their historic homelands, where they are functionally extinct, is a huge victory for wildlife and the people who cherish our wild landscapes. The decision is accompanied by a 10(j) rule that gives agencies flexibility under the Endangered Species Act to responsibly manage bears.

“We applaud the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for deciding to actively restore grizzly bears to North Cascades,” said Susan Holmes, executive director of the Endangered Species Coalition. “As a keystone species, grizzly bears play an important role in the ecology of their habitat, and we are excited for their pending return to a place where they have long been absent.”

The North Cascades Ecosystem holds one of the most remote and rugged mountain ranges in the country and is one of only two grizzly bear recovery areas without an established population. The area is one of North America’s premier intact ecosystems and is optimal habitat for grizzlies. However, the last confirmed sighting of a grizzly bear was in 1996. Habitat fragmentation and the low numbers of grizzlies in nearby populations make it highly unlikely that grizzlies would naturally recover in this area.

“After years of advocacy the Upper Skagit Tribe looks forward to the day the great bear returns to the rugged North Cascades which our people previously shared with Grizzlies for thousands of years,” said Scott Schuyler, policy representative for the Upper Skagit Tribe, whose territory lies within the recovery zone. “We thank leaders at the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Department of Interior for their intention to restore a cultural icon in the North Cascades.”

Now, bears from healthy source populations would be translocated into the North Cascades over several years until an initial population of 25 is reached.

“The Snoqualmie Tribe is excited to hear this news, and to know that this hard-fought effort to bring home grizzlies is close to becoming a reality,” said Snoqualmie Indian Tribe Tribal Chairman Robert M. de los Angeles. “This is a critical moment in history, with governments, organizations, and individuals working together to welcome grizzlies back after human action removed them from their home. Snoqualmie thanks the leadership of our Congressional Leaders, the National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Department of Interior for their persistent work and advocacy.”

For years, advocates in Washington state and beyond have weighed in supporting efforts to help the declining population of grizzlies and reintroduce bears to their historic habitat. A recent poll shows that 85% of Americans support grizzly restoration in the North Cascades. While 2023 public meetings did report some concern among Washington residents about living near grizzlies again, the 10(j) rule responds to those concerns.

“The agencies have shown that they are listening to local communities like ours by including necessary management flexibility for a successful reintroduction effort in the long run,” said Jasmine Minbashian, executive director of Methow Valley Citizens Council. “In eastern Washington, human-bear coexistence initiatives are already in progress. With the right resources focused on bear-smart infrastructure and education, rural communities can be a proud partner in the triumphant return of our majestic grizzly bears.”

A final Record of Decision will be signed following a legally-mandated 30-day waiting period. Find more information on the plan for North Cascades grizzly bear recovery from the Friends of the North Cascades Grizzly Bear Coalition at https://www.northcascadesgrizzly.org/

“I can’t think of better news to usher in the promise of Spring than this historic step toward restoring grizzly bears to the North Cascades,” said Paula MacKay, carnivore conservation specialist with Woodland Park Zoo. “As we await the final Record of Decision, the zoo is poised to promote the long-term coexistence of thriving human communities and a healthy grizzly bear population.”

“Today we celebrate our national parks as places where wildlife thrives and ecosystems are made whole,” said Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association. “For years, NPCA has worked tirelessly to bring grizzlies back to their historic homeland. The return of the grizzly bear to North Cascades National Park is a symbol of the power of perseverance.”

“The grizzly bear is a critical part of the ecological and cultural fabric of the North Cascades. They belong here. Without them, our wild areas are diminished, less diverse and sanitized. The narrative about Cascades grizzly bear recovery will take decades to unfold. But with science, education and a little human tolerance, it can be one of the greatest conservation success stories of ours and future generations,” said Joe Scott, international program director for Conservation Northwest.

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