Grizzly bears are considered sacred by many Tribes, but today only a small fraction of the historic grizzly populations exist in the lower 48 states.
To respond to the Department of the Interior’s controversial decision to remove endangered species protections for grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced the Tribal Heritage and Grizzly Bear Protection Act (H.R. 3894) at a press conference today surrounded by Tribal leaders and environmentalists.
This bill would ensure that grizzly bears are permanently protected for their ecological and cultural value and guarantees Tribes have a role in conserving and managing the species. Grizzly bears are considered sacred by many Tribes, but today only a small fraction of the historic grizzly populations exist in the lower 48 states.
The bill is strongly supported by a coalition of 50 Tribes and conservation groups.
It would:Ban trophy hunting and non-discriminatory predator control measures that may result in taking of grizzly bears on public lands.
Permit take and possession of grizzly bears only for certain purposes.
Require consultation with tribes before issuing permits and before any major federal action that could impact grizzly bears or their habitat.
Add tribal members to the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee.
Create a process for reintroduction of grizzly bears to suitable land of wiling Tribes
“Grizzly bears are an essential component of healthy ecosystems, but trophy hunting and aggressive predator control by states pose a great risk to these top predators.
There are certain species that should be off-limits from trophy hunting, and the grizzly bear is one of them.
We don’t hunt avian predators like Golden eagles or Bald eagles, and the mammals at the top of the food chain also should be protected from people who want to kill them for bragging rights.”
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