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Lawmakers press for durable grizzly delisting as agency flags management costs
Summary
Committee debate centered on the durability of administrative delisting versus legislative fixes; agency reported an average of 21 conflict grizzly euthanizations per year and said it spends over $2 million annually on grizzly management.
Lawmakers and Wyoming Game and Fish Department officials spent a significant portion of the interim session discussing grizzly bear delisting, management tools, and the costs of conflict responses.
Representative and committee members questioned whether an administrative delisting would be durable given potential judicial and NEPA challenges. "Because with an administrative fix they can always be changed," Director Ashleigh Bruscato said, arguing that a sound administrative record built on the best science gives the best chance for durability but that history suggests litigation and administrative reversals are likely.
On direct management impacts, Director Bruscato told the committee the department euthanizes an average of 21 conflict bears per year and spends in excess of $2 million annually managing grizzlies. "An average of 21 bears a year have been euthanized for conflict. And we spend over $2 million managing them," she said.
Stakeholders and experts
Chief Dan Smith (Wildlife Chief) told the panel that grizzlies and black bears coexist in many places and that grizzly range expansion affects black-bear interactions, but both species remain at healthy population levels in relevant units. Richard Garrett of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition urged patience and called for a durable delisting process, confirming his organization's financial support for a planned Highway 26 wildlife crossing near Dubois.
Why it matters
Management decisions for grizzlies affect public safety, agricultural interests, hunting seasons, and the state's legal relationship with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The committee heard that administrative delisting requires an exhaustive, defensible record to withstand potential litigation; some lawmakers pressed for a legislative or congressional solution to achieve a longer-lasting result.
Next steps
The department said it will continue administrative work with the Fish and Wildlife Service while the committee and the state's federal delegation continue exploring federal legislative options. The agency asked for patience but urged action that prioritizes a defensible record to reduce the likelihood of future relisting or legal reversal.
Ending
The committee did not vote on policy changes; members signaled interest in continuing oversight and considering both administrative and legislative paths.
