Letter: Don't let Congress roll back progress on protecting grizzly bears

Right now, grizzly bears are at serious risk. Politicians in Congress are pushing to strip Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections from grizzly populations in the Northern Rockies. If they succeed, it could open the door to trophy hunting and habitat destruction — threats that grizzlies simply can't afford.

These proposals ignore decades of scientific research and run counter to public opinion. Instead of supporting thoughtful conservation, they cater to special interests that would prefer to see fewer grizzlies in the wild.

Grizzly bears are still recovering from have been at the brink of extinction. Their future depends on strong, science-based federal protections. Without the ESA, grizzly populations could become isolated and genetically weakened, undoing decades of hard-earned progr