Southwest Montana News

On February 7, 2024, Congressman Matt Rosendale of Montana released a statement regarding the grizzly bear population in the state. The statement came after the deadline for the 12-month status review of grizzly bear delisting in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) passed.

In his statement, Rep. Rosendale expressed his belief that the science is clear and that grizzly bears are now fully recovered. He criticized the Biden Administration's restrictions, calling them burdensome and unnecessary. Rep. Rosendale stated, "Montanans are tired of witnessing the federal government try to micromanage a field they clearly aren't knowledgeable in. It is time for Washington bureaucrats to give the power back to the people and follow the facts. That is why I introduced legislation to return management to our state so we can protect our communities and put an end to the Left’s unjustified regulations."

Rep. Rosendale has been actively involved in grizzly bear management legislation. On March 3, 2023, he introduced H.R. 1364, the Science-Based Grizzly Bear Management Act, which aimed to remove the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem population of grizzly bears from the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife. Additionally, on March 7, 2023, Rep. Rosendale introduced H.R. 1419, the Comprehensive Grizzly Bear Management Act, which aimed to delist the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem population of grizzly bears from the Federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife.

His Comprehensive Grizzly Bear Management Act passed the House Committee on Natural Resources on April 28, 2023. To further discuss the legislation and the delisting of grizzly bears from the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Rep. Rosendale held a roundtable in Choteau on May 1, 2023. During a House Committee on Natural Resources hearing on November 2, 2023, Rep. Rosendale highlighted the dangers posed by grizzly bears and urged for their removal from the endangered species list.

Rep. Rosendale's efforts reflect his dedication to protecting the interests of Montanans and ensuring that grizzly bear management is based on sound scientific evidence. As the debate surrounding grizzly bear delisting continues, it remains to be seen how Rep. Rosendale's legislation will progress and if the management of grizzly bears will be returned to the state of Montana.