Take action for grizzlies to honor Endangered Species Day. Learn why grizzlies are still at risk and how you can take action to protect one of North America’s most iconic and threatened species—before it’s too late.
Take Action for Grizzlies Before It’s Too Late
Tomorrow marks Endangered Species Day, and there’s no more urgent time to speak up for one of the most iconic and imperiled animals in North America: the grizzly bear.
Just this week, we learned that another of grizzly 399’s famous quad cubs has been killed—hit by a car in Grand Teton National Park. This is the second of her offspring to die due to human causes. The first was killed by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department after people left unsecured food and trash out. These losses aren’t accidents—they’re the result of failed human responsibility and broken wildlife management systems.
Meanwhile, grizzly bear habitats are shrinking, roads are slicing through core ranges, and conflicts with livestock and hunters are still the leading cause of grizzly deaths. These bears are facing increasing pressure—not less—and yet the USFWS wants to weaken the very protections that have kept grizzlies from sliding into extinction.
Right now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering a new proposal to manage grizzlies in the Lower 48 as a single “distinct population segment” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The agency had planned four public meetings, but those meetings were canceled to give the Trump administration time to rewrite the rule. That’s a massive red flag.
The proposal includes a 4(d) rule that would make it easier to kill grizzlies for so-called “conflicts”—many of which are entirely preventable if people secure food and reduce attractants. The rule could also cut protections in states like California, Oregon, New Mexico, and Colorado, where grizzlies aren’t currently found but could return if given the chance. In contrast, just last month, a feasibility study found that grizzly bears could thrive in several areas of their native home range in California. Imagine what is possible if our government was even just a fraction as proactive as the study’s authors.
Let’s be clear: grizzlies are slow to reproduce, and even small losses of adult bears can undo decades of conservation progress. They need continued federal protection under the ESA—not a patchwork of state management systems that could open the door to trophy hunting, shoot-on-sight policies, and industry pressure.
The Biden administration originally put forward this proposal as a compromise. Now, the Trump administration is undermining it behind closed doors with their work to gut the definition of “harm” under the ESA.
What You Can Do Today:
Submit your public comment before the deadline: Friday, May 16, 2025.
Sample Comment (Customize It!)
As an American who cares deeply about wildlife and healthy ecosystems, I strongly support the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposal to continue ESA protections for grizzly bears in the Lower 48.
I oppose any 4(d) rule that would increase “management flexibility” by allowing more grizzlies to be killed for conflicts that result from human negligence, such as unsecured food or livestock attractants. These rules will lead to more dead bears and will undermine grizzly recovery efforts.
I urge the Service to keep all current recovery zones intact and maintain the full range of protections under the Endangered Species Act. Grizzly bears need space, safety, and strong federal oversight—not piecemeal state control or weakened enforcement.
Grizzlies are part of our natural heritage, and their survival is a direct reflection of how seriously we take our responsibility to future generations. Please uphold the ESA and reject any provisions that weaken protections for grizzlies or their habitats.
Why It Matters
Grizzlies don’t have lobbyists. They don’t get to call a senator. But you do.
If you’ve ever had the chance to see a grizzly in the wild—or even just imagine it—you know how awe-inspiring, powerful, and irreplaceable these animals are. They are ecosystem engineers, cultural icons, and symbols of wildness and resilience.
We are at a tipping point. Without strong protections, we risk reversing decades of progress and handing off a future where grizzlies only exist in museums and memories. In honor of Endangered Species Day, make your voice heard. Tell the federal government: grizzlies still need our protection—and our respect.
Act now before the comment period closes: Submit your comment here
Wildlife for All is committed to protecting America’s most imperiled species and fighting for science-based, ethical wildlife policy. Together, we can ensure that grizzly bears have a future in the wild—where they belong.
