Eastern Shoshone tribe opposes grizzly delisting

CASPER, Wyo. (AP) – Eastern Shoshone tribal leaders have approved a resolution opposing any decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to strip federal protections for grizzly bears by removing them from the threatened species list.

The resolution unanimously approved by the Shoshone Business Council and signed Oct. 28 by council Chairman Darwin St. Clair Jr. states the tribe won’t allow the state of Wyoming to “inflict its policies” on Eastern Shoshone tribal lands.

Tribal leaders rejected trophy hunting of wolves on tribal lands, according to the resolution.

“And we hold that same position in relation to the grizzly bear,” the resolution states.

The Eastern Shoshone share central Wyoming’s Wind River Indian Reservation with the Northern Arapaho tribe. To date, the Northern Arapaho haven’t endorsed the Eastern Shoshone resolution or adopted a similar resolution, the Casper Star-Tribune reported. 

Northern Arapaho officials said their tribe has no position on delisting grizzlies.

Grizzly numbers in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming have been rebounding rapidly. In 2013, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, a group of wildlife officials from various government agencies, suggested that federal protection for grizzlies could be lifted.

Federal officials have said they have no timetable for removing grizzlies from federal protection, however.

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Information from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com