Groups Challenge New Law Allowing Wyoming to OK Grizzly Bear Hunts

https://www.humanesociety.org/news/groups-challenge-new-law-allowing-wyoming-ok-grizzly-bear-hunts

CHEYENNE, Wyo.— The Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, Humane Society of the United States, Western Watersheds Project, and Wyoming Wildlife Advocates today filed a notice of intent to sue over a new state law that would give the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission authority to manage grizzlies, including the authorization of a hunting season as early as this spring.

“This is an egregious attempt to ignore federal law protecting Yellowstone’s iconic grizzly bears,” said Bonnie Rice, Senior Representative with Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign. “We will not idly stand by while Wyoming moves to illegally take authority for managing grizzly bears and subject them to trophy hunts.”

Grizzly bears in Wyoming are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. In September, a federal judge struck down an attempt by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove federal protection for grizzlies in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem, thwarting Wyoming’s plan to hold a fall hunting season.