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APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS DECISION FROM LOWER COURT
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals correctly upheld the decision from Judge Dana Christensen that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made the choice to delist grizzlies for the wrong reasons.

The Circuit Court ruled that “because there were no concrete, enforceable mechanisms in place to ensure long-term genetic health of the Yellowstone grizzly, the district court correctly concluded that the 2017 Rule was arbitrary and capricious in that regard.” The Circuit Court also affirmed that “FWS’s decision to drop the commitment to recalibration in the conservation
strategy violated the ESA because it was the result of political pressure by the states rather than having been based on the best scientific and commercial data.”

We applaud this decision from the 9th Circuit Court and are grateful for the groups that brought the case, including native tribes who revere the grizzly as a relative. Grizzlies are not increasing in numbers but are expanding their range in search of food. An island population of grizzlies without connectivity to other populations is doomed to decline because of genetic inbreeding. The state of Wyoming is chomping at the bit to trophy hunt grizzlies but not on our watch. For the foreseeable future, hunts will be off-limits as bears are under continued protections of the Endangered Species Act.

Loss of food resources, climate change, increasing human population and development, and conflicts all continue to put grizzlies in harm's way. Bears are wandering further afield to look for food as their traditional sources are diminished. Conflicts with residential neighborhoods, farmers, and ranchers all lead to bears being relocated or killed. Vehicle strikes and hunting conflicts are also impacting their populations. Watch our short film "Redefining Recovery" to understand more about why the decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to delist Yellowstone grizzlies was based on politics, not science. A path forward for recovery exists, yet it will take a shift in thinking by the USFWS and states to look for solutions rather than pandering to the requests of a few special interests.
Wyoming Wildlife Advocates is pleased to participate in the first ever WyoGives!

This new annual day of giving is generously supported by the Wyoming Nonprofit Network, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming and the John P. Ellbogen Foundation. WyoGives is designed to bring the state together as one community to raise money and awareness for Wyoming’s nonprofits. This 24-hour day of online giving takes place on July 15, 2020. This is a special month for Wyoming, as it marks the 130th anniversary of Wyoming’s statehood. Show your support for Wyoming's wildlife. Help us secure the future of the wild for generations to come.

A donor has generously offered to match all donations up to $5,000!

Help us turn $5,000 into $10,000

Click the photo below to watch a short video about why WyoGives is so important to WWA! 


The Wyoming Game and Fish Commissioners will meet next Thursday and Friday, July 16 and 17, to discuss wolf hunting seasons and potential changes to trapping regulations. You can join in to view the meeting by clicking the link below to register. Public comments will be accepted but you must fill out a form and send it in by Monday, June 13 or wait to speak at the end of the day.

In a memo from Rick King, Chief of the Department's Wildlife Division, containing a summary of public comments, he states, "Many public comments relate to philosophical differences of opinion regarding the management of gray wolves in Wyoming. The Department continues utilizing the best science available to manage wolf populations and recommends continuing to use hunting seasons as part of ongoing management efforts for gray wolves."

We'd like to mention that comments from WWA, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Humane Society of the U.S. were all lengthy, well thought-out, and were backed up by data from peer-reviewed papers. The Department continues to try and defend their proposed wolf hunting seasons using the bare minimum and narrowly-focused, incomplete data. In 2020, forty-one wolves can be killed on the boundaries of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.


We want to know what YOU want to know about Wyoming's wildlife! Since we can't gather in person due to covid-19, we will be offering a set of engaging videos in order to reach out and have a more interactive experience with our supporters. Please send us your questions about chronic wasting disease, grizzly recovery, wolf hunting in Wyoming, or any other wildlife topic that you want to know more about.

Send questions to info@wyowild.org or click the link below!
Photos credits: Yellowstone Grizzly: Ashley Noble Wild Photography