IWF Welcomes New 4(d) Proposal Advancing Grizzly Bear Conservation
The Idaho Wildlife Federation welcomes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposed 4(d) rule for grizzly bears, an important step that recognizes decades of successful conservation while creating a more durable framework for managing recovered areas.
The recovery of grizzly bears is one of North America's greatest conservation success stories. Through decades of collaboration among state and federal wildlife agencies, Tribes, conservation organizations, hunters, landowners, and local communities, grizzly bears have rebounded across much of their historic range in the Northern Rockies.
A Section 4(d) rule is a provision of the Endangered Species Act that allows the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to tailor protections for species listed as threatened. It does not delist grizzly bears, remove federal protections, or establish a hunting season. Instead, it provides a framework for how those protections are applied while giving state wildlife managers greater flexibility to respond to challenges such as public safety concerns, conflicts with livestock, and the realities of managing recovered and expanding areas.
The proposed rule reflects that conservation is not static. As bear numbers continue to grow and expand into new areas, management must evolve to ensure both healthy wildlife populations and thriving communities. Providing greater management flexibility where recovery objectives have been met supports continued conservation while helping address conflicts before they undermine public support for grizzly recovery.
"The recovery of grizzly bears is a conservation success story," said Kyle Maki, IWF Sporting Partnerships and Policy Manager. "This rule builds on that success. We have every confidence in our state wildlife managers, who will now have additional tools to conserve grizzly bears while responding to the realities of expanding bear numbers.”
IWF continues to support science-based wildlife management and believes state wildlife agencies play a critical role in conserving recovered species. The expertise, on-the-ground knowledge, and adaptive management practiced by state agencies are essential to ensuring areas remain healthy while maintaining public trust in wildlife conservation.
While yesterday’s announcement marks an important milestone, the Idaho Wildlife Federation looks forward to reviewing the full text of the proposed rule once it is released. We will continue to share updates as more information becomes available and as we better understand what the proposal means for grizzly bear conservation, state wildlife management, and communities across the Northern Rockies.
For more information on the proposed Section 4(d) rule and to learn about the public comment period, visit the U.S. Department of the Interior’s announcement.
Cover Image: Idaho Fish and Game
