Bush Adminstration to Endanger Grizzly Bears

Recent news reports say the Bush Administration is going to lift protection
on the grizzly bears of yellowstone. Scientists, environmentalists and Bear-lovers
are protesting


http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/index.php?feed=Science&article=UPI-1-20070323-14365600-bc-us-grizzlies-crn.xml

Grizzly bears taken off Yellowstone list
DENVER, March 23 (UPI) -- U.S. wildlife officials say there are so many grizzly bears in Yellowstone National Park, they are no longer considered a threatened species.
There are now more than 500 grizzlies in a 14,000-square-mile region in and around the park, USA Today reported.
They will be taken off the endangered-species list by late April and gray wolves will be removed from the list by the end of year, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services said.
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition and the Natural Resources Defense Council say climate change and human encroachment are still a threat to the grizzlies. The NRDC told USA Today it may sue for continued federal protection.
The National Wildlife Federation hailed the announcement as "a testament to the resilience of grizzly bears," the newspaper said.
An estimated 50,000 grizzlies once roamed the western half of North America but only 136 remained in the Yellowstone area in 1975 when they were listed as threatened. About 1,200 grizzlies now roam the contiguous United States.