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Lawmakers, hunters and USFWS spar over narrow fix to allow import of 41 polar‑bear trophies
Summary
HR 6251 would permit import of polar‑bear trophies taken in Canada before the species’ 2008 ESA listing. Sponsors and Safari Club International called it a narrow remedy for 41 pending cases; agency witnesses said implementation details and record reconstruction would require agency assistance.
A House subcommittee hearing on HR 6251 examined a narrowly tailored bill to allow importation of polar‑bear trophies that were legally taken in Canada before the species was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2008.
Sponsor Rep. Begich urged the subcommittee to "restore that balance for 41 Americans who have been waiting nearly two decades for a remedy," saying the bill would not authorize new hunts, change Canada’s management, or alter the polar bear’s ESA status. Madeline Dimaskey, litigation associate for Safari Club International, told members the bill corrects an "unintended consequence" of automatic MMPA treatment following the ESA listing and emphasized that the covered bears were taken from sustainably managed Canadian populations.
Why it matters: Witnesses noted cultural and economic links between guided hunts and Arctic indigenous communities. Dimaskey said guided hunts historically provided revenue and in‑kind benefits — for example, meat distribution and employment that supports traditional skills — and that the affected bears were taken under established Canadian indigenous quota systems.
What the agency said: Dave Meiko of USFWS said the Service supports HR 6251’s goals but that some administrative records for the 41 permit applications are no longer immediately available under records‑retention policies, and the Service would assist hunters by reconstructing records from Federal Register notices and other available materials. Meiko described the import change as "lifting the long standing unintended regulatory burden on those American hunters."
Questions and clarifications: Members asked whether the bill would authorize new killing or change international listings; witnesses and counsel answered that HR 6251 would affect only the existing set of applications and would not change ESA, Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), or CITES listings. Members also discussed how Canada’s indigenous quota system and guided‑hunt practices operate; Dimaskey said Canada authorizes indigenous quotas and that guided hunts use tags assigned through indigenous communities.
Next steps: The subcommittee will accept written follow‑up questions and did not vote on HR 6251 during the hearing.
