Judge confirms ruling on grizzly bears LARAMIE, WY (wpr) - A Montana judge is upholding his earlier ruling saying the federal government must keep Yellowstone-area grizzly bears on the list of threatened and endangered species. This is after an attempt by federal officials to reverse an earlier court ruling.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service two years ago said grizzlies in and around Yellowstone National Park had recovered from near-extermination and no longer needed protections under the Endangered Species Act.
But in September, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy said climate change and lax regulations threatened to undermine the bears' recovery. After Molloy ordered the animals back onto the threatened list, government attorneys asked that he reconsider, saying the bear would thrive without sweeping federal protections.
In an order Tuesday, Molloy rejected the government's argument and confirmed his earlier ruling.
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