East Idaho Times

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and U.S. Representative Russ Fulcher have raised concerns regarding the flawed and harmful endangered species listings under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In a joint letter addressed to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Director Martha Williams, the Members expressed the need for the agency to reevaluate its use of distinct population segments in the Endangered Species Act listings.

The Members highlighted the negative impacts of these listings, stating, "These legally and biologically flawed listings are not harmless. They impose unnecessary restrictions and administrative requirements, not only for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but also for federal land management agencies, states, and a wide swath of private enterprise and citizens." The letter also pointed out that such listings have led to procedural lawsuits that divert federal resources and fail to produce conservation benefits.

The letter emphasized how the artificial separation of wildlife populations has resulted in the wastage of limited conservation resources and hindered the delisting of recovered species. Particularly, the lower-48 grizzly bear listing in Idaho and throughout the West was cited as having deadly ramifications due to increased bear encounters. The Members also identified other problematic listings including bull trout, Canada lynx, North American wolverine, and gray wolf.

The full text of the letter can be accessed here.

This call for a reevaluation of the endangered species listings aims to address the concerns raised by the Members and advocate for more effective conservation measures that benefit both wildlife and communities.