By: Frank N

Frank N — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:16:32 +0000

More than 270 scientists urged FWS not to delist the Yellowstone grizzly bear population. Under the invalidated delisting decision, more than 40 percent of currently occupied grizzly bear habitat in the Yellowstone ecosystem received no habitat protection. Nearly 2 million acres of high-quality grizzly bear habitat was opened to increased motorized access, more than 630,000 acres was opened for logging, and more than 850,000 acres was opened to oil and gas development in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Also, in the past two years grizzly mortality has risen alarmingly. With today’s court ruling, these lands are once again governed by Endangered Species Act protections. Funny thing is that protecting these lands for bears also protects them for future hunters , fisherman and other outdoorspeople. Now that Yellowstone grizzlies are again listed as a threatened species, the federal government can develop a new recovery plan that takes into account the ravages of global warming, including the loss of thousands of white bark pine trees that are a primary fall food source. It will require a new recovery zone that protects more bear habitat so that bears can withstand the impacts of global warming. BTW, anyone who thinks that anything about global warming is “absurd” really needs to do some homework. It is a very serious problem that threatens far more than grizzly and polar bears.
As Judge Molloy ruled, the feds delisted the bear INSPITE OF THE FINDINGS OF THEIR OWN SCIENTISTS NOT BECAUSE OF THEM. Molloy’s “science” does not “disagree” with the science of the USFWS science, he is simply ruling on law and the fact that USFWS decided to ignore science.
As long as the feds continue to make decisions regarding the ESA according to politics rather than science (including their own science!!), they will continue to lose these cases.

Comments on: Grizzly Bears Back On ESA List. Molloy’s Science Trumps USFWS’ Science

By: Frank N