From GREENLines today.

YELLOWSTONE GRIZZLIES MAY BE DELISTED: As early as next year, the federal
government is planning to propose "that grizzlies in the Yellowstone
ecosystem be removed from endangered species protections in place since
1975," according to the Billings Gazette, 9/20.  Once on the brink of
extinction, grizzly bears in the Lower 48 "number about 1,000, the vast
majority of them in northwestern Montana and in and around Yellowstone
National Park."  The grizzly bear was listed as a threatened species under
the Endangered Species Act in 1975.  Although recovering in Yellowstone,
grizzly bear populations in other areas such as the Cabinet/Yaak, the
Selkirk Mountains and the Bitterroots, are still threatened.  Some
conservationists "worry that the grizzly population around Yellowstone isn't
ready to lose federal protection."  Louisa Willcox of the Natural Resources
Defense Council says the "move to delist is premature because there aren't
enough measures to protect habitat and development pressures continue to
mount."  "The window of opportunity is closing fast on our remaining
grizzlies," she said. "If we fail to seize the moment, and lost the grizzly
in the Lower 48 states, will future generations forgive us?"

[Delisting of grizzlies could lead to increased energy development.]
Jonathan Langer with the National Resources Defense Council in Bozeman said
"If you don't protect those bears from severe danger from development and
oil and gas development, they could be lost."

GREENLines, Monday, August 16, 2004, Issue 2171

BUSH ADMINISTRATION MOVES CLOSER TO DELISTING GRIZZLY:  "The Bush
administration on Friday moved towards removing grizzly bears in the
Yellowstone area from protected status under the Endangered Species Act,"
according to MSNBC, 8/13.

The federal government wants to sign the grizzly bear delisting order with
their right hand, while using their left hand to wave goodbye to habitat
that grizzly bears require for long-term survival in the U.S. Northern
Rockies - their last stronghold in the lower 48 states," Louisa Willcox,
director of the Wild Bears Project for the Natural Resources Defense
Council.

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