The Trump Administration announced the bears would lose their protection under the Endangered Species Act.

yellowstone grizzlies

The Trump Administration yesterday announced that the grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) of Yellowstone National Park would lose their protection under the Endangered Species Act.

As part of the announcement, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke called Yellowstone grizzlies “one of America’s great conservation successes” and declared the population recovered. This, of course, leaves out future threats from climate change, invasive species, inbreeding, habitat loss and a potential return to trophy hunting.

The hotly debated delisting process, which has long been opposed by tribal authorities, began under the Obama Administration.

John R. Platt

is the editor of The Revelator. An award-winning environmental journalist, his work has appeared in Scientific American, Audubon, Motherboard, and numerous other magazines and publications. His “Extinction Countdown” column has run continuously since 2004 and has covered news and science related to more than 1,000 endangered species. He is a member of the Society of Environmental Journalists and the National Association of Science Writers. John lives on the outskirts of Portland, Ore., where he finds himself surrounded by animals and cartoonists.