The Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) is celebrating a significant step on a path to the delisting of the grizzly bear. In its comments submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MSGA applauded the proposed rule’s recognition of how each state wildlife agency can play an important role in the management of grizzly bears. This new approach creates pathways for greater management flexibility.
The proposed 4(d) rule follows years of advocacy from MSGA who has strongly advocated for the delisting of the grizzly bear from the Endangered Species Act and has asked for the ability for states to manage the species. MSGA has argued that populations in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems have biologically recovered and far exceed federal recovery goals set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“Montana ranchers continue to see livestock losses due to grizzly bear depredation. As grizzly bears continue to exceed recovery criterion and as we have seen an increase in population, Montana ranchers are left with limited management options and resources to keep their herds safe,” said Raylee Honeycutt, MSGA Executive Vice President. “Our goal is a full delisting. This proposed rule is the first step in achieving that goal.”
Since 1884, MSGA has been dedicated to finding proactive solutions to the most difficult challenges facing Montana’s cattle ranching families. The organization represents ranchers who run livestock on combined private, state and federal lands and who have significant and long-standing interest in the management of grizzly bears. MSGA’s members have experienced first-hand the impacts of this apex predator on their ranching operations and federal livestock grazing permits.
To learn more, visit www.mtbeef.org.
The Montana Stockgrowers Association is a grassroots membership organization and is the trusted voice of cattle ranchers. With over 140 years of history, MSGA advocates and ensures cattle ranching remains relevant, safe and a sustainable way of life for generations to come.
MEDIA CONTACT
Raylee Honeycutt
Executive Vice President
(406) 442-3420
To view more MSGA news, visit https://mtbeef.org/news/
