Grizzly Hunt Lawsuit
by Humane Society of the United States press release
June 13, 2016
On Friday, Jim Laybourn (a Wyoming wildlife filmmaker), The Humane Society of the United States and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit challenging the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission’s illegal efforts to limit public comment in order to fast-track approval of the state’s first trophy hunt of grizzly bears in 40 years.
Citizens concerned with the slaughter of the bears were only given 30 days to review the proposed management plan for the trophy hunt, and shortly thereafter the Commission voted unanimously to approve the plan. The Commission simultaneously adopted a tri-state memorandum of agreement with Idaho and Montana to formalize quotas for grizzly hunts, allocating over 50 percent of the quota to Wyoming.
Jim Laybourn, a lifelong Wyoming resident who has spent thousands of hours observing grizzly bears in the field, said: "I am deeply concerned about the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission’s apparent lack of respect for the will of the public. Grizzly bears are the keystone species of both our ecosystem and our economy, worth tens of millions in tourism dollars each year. The management plan will remain fatally flawed until the Commission gives the community whose livelihood depends on grizzlies an opportunity to make their voices heard."
The long-term harm caused by trophy hunting has been well established by scientific research. By specifically targeting the biggest and strongest males, trophy hunting reduces the genetic viability of a species and has cascading impacts on the social dynamics of apex predators, including increasing infanticide. And a recent study demonstrated that when states allow recreational trophy hunting of carnivores, it increases the rate of poaching by normalizing killing.
"The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission has once again ignored scientific evidence and promoted the persecution of large carnivores," said Anna Frostic, senior attorney for wildlife litigation at The Humane Society of the United States. "The public must be given ample time to scrutinize any proposal to commercialize our wildlife heritage."
In March of this year, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to delist grizzly bears in the Yellowstone ecosystem and turn their management over to the states. In return, Wyoming has rushed to approve a trophy-hunting season that puts the recovery of grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone in jeopardy. As soon as bears leave Yellowstone National Park, they will be in danger of being shot. This unsustainable scheme will prevent the Yellowstone population from connecting to any other bear populations, a connectivity the Service has acknowledged Yellowstone bears need to ensure long-term genetic health.
"This trigger-happy plan allows hunters to specifically target the very grizzly bears that are key to creating the genetic connectivity with other grizzly populations that’s absolutely needed to protect the long-term genetic health of Yellowstone grizzlies," said Andrea Santarsiere, a staff attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. "By putting these important bears at great risk the second they step outside park boundaries, this plan threatens the long-term recovery of grizzly bears in the northern Rockies."
The plaintiffs are seeking to reopen the comment period on the state proposals in order to allow members of the public the appropriate time to express their views on whether this majestic animal should be managed by the best-available science or by states anxious to attract globetrotting trophy hunters.
The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys from The Humane Society of the United States, the Center for Biological Diversity and local counsel Megan Hayes.
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(Editor's Note: The Wyoming Game & Fish Department is currently accepting public comment on its draft regulation for grizzly hunting.}
Highlights of the regulations include:
• No person shall take any grizzly bear outside of established grizzly bear hunting seasons or hunt areas.
• No licensed hunter shall take any female grizzly bear with dependent young at side.
• Any hunting mortality that exceeds total mortality limits within the Demographic Monitoring Area in any calendar year shall be subtracted from the specific age/sex class’ total mortality limit within the DMA for the following year.
• Within 24 hours after taking a grizzly bear, the licensee shall report the taking of a grizzly bear by calling toll free 1-800-264-1280, and shall present the hide and skull to a Game and Fish Regional Office within five days for registration purposes.
• Any hunting season shall immediately close when specified harvest limits are reached.
Game and Fish will hold a series of public meetings around the state on this proposed regulation and take comments online or in writing. All interested parties are encouraged to attend one of these public meetings starting at 6 p.m. to discuss the proposed Grizzly Bear Management Regulation:
June 13 -Cheyenne, Game and Fish Office
June 14 -Jackson, Virginian Lodge
June 16 -Casper, Game and Fish Office
June 20- Lander, Game and Fish Office
June 21-Pinedale, Game and Fish Office
June 23-Cody, Bighorn Federal Bank
The public comment period ends June 29, 2016. Those interested can comment online or by mail.
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