Montana Farm Bureau applauds grizzly bear management announcement

BOZEMAN – The Montana Farm Bureau (MFBF) applauds the U.S. Department of the Interior for its decision to introduce a proposed rule change providing states more flexibility with grizzly bear management.  

The revision updates a January 2025 proposal and focuses solely on the 4(d) provisions. Section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act allows the federal government to establish customized, flexible regulations for threatened species rather than enforcing rigid, blanket restrictions.

The newly announced USFWS revision keeps the grizzly bear listed under federal protection, but transfers the operational, day-to-day management authority directly to state wildlife agencies in areas where recovery benchmarks are met. Crucially, the rule gives local wildlife managers the green light to haze, move, or remove conflict bears without waiting on federal approval, though it does not open a public hunting season.

Montana Farm Bureau has long been a supporter of state management of grizzly bears with policy on the matter dating back to 1997.

MFBF Director of State Government Affairs, Karli Johnson was one of several Montana Farm Bureau members who attended yesterday’s announcement and round table meeting with Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Idaho Governor Brad Little, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon. Johnson, who ranches in Teton County with her family, is no stranger to bear conflicts.

“Management decisions made thousands of miles from those most impacted are not good for those of us that deal with these realities daily. It’s difficult to understand the gravity of any decision if you are not the one experiencing the consequences first-hand,” noted Johnson. “This revision would mean that the person you call when a conflict occurs is the person who makes the decisions about what actions to take. We look forward to working with the state to finalize plans to implement the 4 (d) rule.”

The interior secretary noted that revising the 4 (d) rule is a step toward delisting s and the department will work toward helping the states implement management.

Following the announcement, a round table was held with stakeholders to discuss how the rule might be implemented and what is truly needed on the ground.

Chas Vincent, a Northwest Counties Farm Bureau member with Vincent Logging in Libby, attended the round table and noted, "State management of the grizzly bear will bring long overdue flexibility in areas where the bear is at or over management objectives, which I believe will foster innovative solutions to meet management objectives, especially in areas where bears are not."

Chase Dellwo, Teton Farm Bureau Board member and rancher from Choteau who also participated in the round table called it, “A worthwhile experience for a step in the right direction.”

Teton Farm Bureau hosted a Town Hall meeting July 16 with Montana Director of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Director Christy Clark who discussed what the implementation of the 4 (d) rule would look like.

Following the event, Teton Farm Bureau Board Member Chrissy Hodgkiss said, “The meeting was informative. It provided the people of Teton County with information regarding the 4(d) rule that may be used to manage the grizzly bear population. Everyone in the room was on the same team and working together towards the same goal. It was an opportunity to learn and voice questions and concerns. It gave me hope that sometime in the future the management of the grizzlies will be held by the state, where they can best protect both the people and animals.”

As grizzlies expand into populated rural valleys, encounters near farmsteads, homes, and school grounds have increased significantly. Local management authority allows for immediate measures when public safety or human life is threatened, allowing for those that live and work in bear country to have the tools to do so safely.

Grizzly populations in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) have exceeded federal recovery goals for years. The GYE population alone was estimated to be more than double the population target in 2023. For rural residents who have borne the cost of living alongside bears for decades, shifting management to state experts validates their successful stewardship efforts.

Montana Farm Bureau looks forward to continuing to be a part of the solution to balance grizzly bears and a functional and productive landscape while providing opportunities for their members to provide direct feedback on the proposed rules and to Fish Wildlife and Parks as the transition begins for state management. Stay tuned on at mfbf.org for more information on how to provide feedback.