Grizzly bears are on the move once again, and the conversation about their status on the Endangered Species List also reawakened recently.

It’s a debate we often revisit in Wyoming: Should grizzlies receive federal protection?

At one time, the answer was, absolutely.

In the 1970s, grizzlies were struggling to survive, with as few as 200 remaining in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), according to some estimates.

Thankfully, the bears have rebounded in the decades since. An estimated 757 grizzlies now roam the GYE today.

That’s great news, yet the increased grizzly population also brings challenges.

Over the years, grizzlies’ home range decreased while the population increased.

Residents in Wyoming have watched grizzlies move into populated areas, including unlikely places like Green River city limits and nearby at Heart Mountain. This spring, the popular Heart Mountain Trail remains temporarily closed due to increased grizzly activity.

While Wyoming Game and Fish staff relocate problem bears that get into farms and ranches, they have limited options for where to take grizzlies. Often times, it seems like we just swap problem bears in the Cody area with those in the Jackson area.

The reality is, grizzlies are reaching the edge of suitable habitat here.

“We’re packing more sardines in the same can,” said Frank van Manen, Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team leader, during the Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee meeting in Cody last week.

Due to the higher population density, cubs have struggled to survive since the early 2000s. Male grizzlies will kill cubs, and mother bears sometimes die trying to protect their offspring, said van Manen.

By removing federal protections for grizzlies, the species could be more effectively managed in Wyoming and surrounding states.

The bears were relisted in 2009 due to the scarcity of whitebark pine, which produces nutritious seeds, a favorite food for grizzlies.

However, a food synthesis report in 2013 should be the last document needed to satisfy court concerns, showing that diminishing whitebark pine will not limit population growth, said Brian Nesvik, Wyoming Game and Fish Department wildlife division chief.

As we have said in the past, it’s time for grizzlies to be managed in Wyoming, just as other species are.

We’re not advocating for a large number of grizzly bears to be hunted. Recovery goals always must remain in place for grizzlies, considering the bear’s history of past struggles.

This iconic animal is a vital part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and we want to see grizzlies continue to thrive. Effective and careful management can help with that goal, not hinder it.