Martin Falbisoner / Wikimedia Commons
Why It Matters
Idaho stands to gain greater control over grizzly bear management under a proposed federal rule announced this week, shifting decision-making power from Washington bureaucracy to state wildlife agencies. The change could reshape how Idaho handles conflicts between growing bear populations and rural communities, livestock operations, and public safety across the Northern Rockies.
What Happened
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service unveiled a proposed rule on Tuesday that would expand state and tribal authority to manage grizzly bears under the Endangered Species Act. The announcement took place in a field south of Bozeman, Montana, with Idaho Governor Brad Little, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon in attendance.
The proposal does not remove grizzly bears from the federal endangered species list, nor does it alter the geographic boundaries of existing management zones. Instead, it focuses on modifying “4(d)” protective regulations under the Endangered Species Act—the section that allows exceptions to protections for listed species.
The rule creates two tiers of additional exceptions that would permit designated state and tribal wildlife agencies to kill grizzlies in specific circumstances. However, the rule explicitly prohibits states from establishing independent hunting seasons for the bears. States would retain authority over other management decisions but would lack the power to open recreational harvest.
By the Numbers
Grizzly bears were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1975, when an estimated 300 to 400 remained in the contiguous United States. The current population along the Continental Divide exceeds 2,000 bears. In January 2025, the Fish and Wildlife Service rejected delisting petitions from Montana and Wyoming, citing concerns about the bears’ long-term recovery status.
The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register on July 17, with a 30-day public comment period. The Fish and Wildlife Service received more than 200,000 comments on an earlier draft of the rule that proposed managing grizzlies as a single population across Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington.
State Authority and Local Control
Idaho Governor Brad Little framed the proposal as a victory for local wildlife management, stating that “Idaho has proven we can successfully conserve grizzly bears while responsibly managing wildlife and protecting our communities.” U.S. Senator Jim Risch echoed the sentiment, arguing that expanding state authority ensures “our own local wildlife agencies, who understand Idaho’s environment best, can follow the science and make commonsense conservation decisions without bureaucratic inefficiencies.”
The shift reflects a broader Trump administration priority to decentralize federal environmental decision-making and give states greater latitude in managing natural resources within their borders. Interior Secretary Burgum has emphasized reducing regulatory burdens on states and enhancing their role in conservation efforts.
Context and Timeline
The proposed rule arrives after the Trump administration pushed back a federal deadline for determining the status of Yellowstone-area grizzly protections. The administration has signaled openness to revising how the federal government manages grizzlies in response to state requests for expanded authority.
Idaho has long sought greater input into grizzly management as bear populations have grown and human-wildlife conflicts have intensified in rural areas. Livestock depredation, food-storage conflicts in residential areas, and occasional human encounters have raised concerns among ranchers and outdoor enthusiasts across the state.
The 30-day public comment period will allow Idahoans, conservation groups, and other stakeholders to weigh in on the proposal. Federal agencies will review all submitted comments before finalizing the rule.
What’s Next
After the comment period closes, the Fish and Wildlife Service will consider revisions and issue a final rule. Implementation would then follow, granting Idaho and other states expanded tools for managing bears within their borders while maintaining the species’ overall Endangered Species Act protections. The timeline for final rule issuance has not been announced.
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