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Wyoming Aiming to Kill Grizzly Bears for Trophy

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Nine months ago, Yellowstone’s grizzly bears were a federally protected endangered species. Today, they’re slated to become targets for trophy hunters.

Less than a year after U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed protection for the iconic bears, Wyoming is seeking to hunt them for trophy.

Grizzly bears are already facing threats posed by poachers, dwindling key food sources (including the seeds of whitebark pine), and high levels of mortality caused by hunter and livestock conflict. Federal biologists documented a record-high 61 grizzly deaths in 2015 and 58 in 2016, with the majority of those caused by people.

The first Wyoming grizzly bear trophy hunt in over four decades will begin in the fall and target 24 bears if the state’s proposal is put into action.

In the meantime, the state agency is inviting the public to weigh in on the draft regulations. Comments are due by April 30. Please submit comments here.