The political claws came out this week as U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) scored a narrow committee victory for her Grizzly Bear State Management Act, a bill that would strip Endangered Species protections from Yellowstone-area grizzlies and block courts from interfering.
The House Natural Resources Committee voted 20-19 along party lines to advance the bill, which now heads to the House floor. If passed, the legislation would reinstate a 2017 Trump-era U.S. Fish & Wildlife rule delisting Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem grizzlies and bar judicial review of that action altogether.
That 2017 delisting was ultimately blocked by a federal judge in Montana, halting planned state-managed grizzly hunts in Wyoming and Idaho. Hageman’s bill aims to override that ruling and prevent future legal challenges.
“The grizzly is in fact the poster child for how the Endangered Species Act has failed,” Hageman said, arguing that the species’ population — now estimated at 1,100 in the region — has fully recovered.
Local Impacts
If the bill becomes law, it could reignite Wyoming’s push for limited grizzly hunting seasons, halted since 2018. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department, long vocal about its readiness to manage the species, has nine employees dedicated solely to grizzly oversight.
For many in Jackson Hole and the broader Greater Yellowstone region, the grizzly remains a symbol of wildness and controversy. Supporters of delisting argue the bears now pose increasing threats to people and livestock, while opponents worry about ecological balance and the slippery slope of weakening the ESA.
What’s Next?
The bill now awaits a vote on the House floor. Meanwhile, another controversial measure passed by the committee on Tuesday, concerning the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on federal lands, signals that wildlife and outdoor recreation policy will continue to be a political battleground in the months ahead.
We’ll be following closely and yes, probably checking for fresh paw prints at the trailhead.
📣 What do YOU think? Should Wyoming manage grizzlies without federal oversight? Let us know in the comments or email us at staff@antlersarch.com.
AntlersArch founder and the voice behind Teton Tattle.
