A new federal ruling on 2025 grizzly bear protection keeps grizzly bears under endangered species protection and allows for conflict management.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced Tuesday that grizzly bears in the northern Rockies will remain protected under the Endangered Species Act. This 2025 grizzly bear protection decision blocks western states’ attempts to take over bear management.
About 2,000 grizzlies live in the lower 48 states today, up from several hundred in the 1970s. However, the bears occupy only 4% of their historic range across Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington State.
Several communities have found success in reducing conflicts between humans and bears. In Montana’s Blackfoot Valley, ranchers use range riders, electric fencing, and guard dogs to protect livestock. These methods have cut bear deaths by 60% since 2018.
Yellowstone National Park reports that grizzly-related tourism generates over $50 million annually for local economies. Wildlife-watching tours focused on bears have doubled since 2020, supporting hundreds of jobs in gateway communities.
The 2025 grizzly bear protection ruling creates a single population group for all northern Rocky Mountain grizzlies instead of splitting them into separate groups. This approach aims to help bears move between different areas and maintain genetic diversity.
Current state management plans would create what critics call “bear islands” around national parks. These isolated populations could face genetic problems and struggle to adapt to climate change.
Human Conflicts Remain a Major Threat
Last year was especially deadly for grizzlies, with at least 90 bears killed by humans. These deaths occurred through accidents, self-defense, and illegal hunting.
According to the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, people cause 85% of all grizzly deaths. Even Yellowstone’s most famous grizzly died in 2024 after being hit by a car.
Why the 2025 Grizzly Bear Protections Matter
Grizzly bears serve as ecosystem engineers through multiple pathways. When they dig for roots and bulbs, they aerate the soil and disperse seeds. Their droppings spread plant seeds across large territories, supporting forest diversity.
They also influence prey behavior in ways that cascade through the ecosystem. By keeping elk and deer herds moving, grizzlies prevent these grazers from overconsuming vegetation in any one area. This protects streamside plants that prevent erosion and provide habitat for fish and birds.
Scientists consider grizzlies an “umbrella species” because protecting their vast territory – up to 500 square miles for a single male – automatically safeguards habitat for hundreds of other species. These include wolverines, lynx, and countless plant species.
The bears hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for Indigenous peoples across North America. Many tribes consider the grizzly a sacred teacher and medicine animal. Traditional stories often feature grizzlies sharing wisdom about plants, healing, and living in harmony with nature.
In 2016, 170 tribes formed The Grizzly: A Treaty of Cooperation, Cultural Revitalization, and Restoration. This landmark agreement promotes incorporating traditional ecological knowledge into bear management. This includes ancient practices for avoiding conflicts and understanding bear behavior patterns across seasons.
Traditional knowledge suggests that historic grizzly populations were far more extensive than today’s recovery goals. Indigenous leaders argue that modern management should aim for similar abundance, allowing bears to reclaim their ecological and cultural roles fully.
See also: World Bear Day.
State vs. Federal Management Debate
Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming seek complete control over grizzly populations. Their proposed management plans permit limited hunting seasons and establish strict bear population zones around national parks.
State wildlife agencies argue they can better balance conservation with local needs. Their plans set population targets of 500 bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and 800 in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem.
However, these plans raise several concerns. They would allow hunting between protected zones, effectively creating isolated bear populations. Critics say this would fragment habitat and prevent genetic exchange between groups.
The states’ proposals also lack precise funding mechanisms for conservation programs. Federal protection provides consistent monitoring, research, and conflict prevention resources.
Wyoming would classify grizzlies as trophy game animals in some areas but predators in others, allowing unrestricted killing. Montana and Idaho propose similar zoned management approaches that could create barriers to bear movement.
Conservation groups point to successful recovery efforts under federal management. The 2025 grizzly bear protection status emphasizes the importance of habitat connectivity. This allows bears to:
- Find mates from different populations
- Adapt to changing food sources
- Establish new territories as needed
- Maintain genetic diversity
- Respond to climate change impacts
Scientists warn that isolating bears in national park “islands” could lead to inbreeding. Similar problems have already appeared in other isolated carnivore populations across North America.
Looking Ahead
The incoming Trump administration has promised to remove federal protections entirely. However, this process could take years and face legal challenges.
Congress could also try to remove protections through new laws. Several bills already aim to delist grizzlies in parts of the lower 48 states.
The USFWS plans to hold public meetings about the 2025 grizzly bear protections in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming to gather feedback. Citizens can also comment once the decision appears in the Federal Register.
