Trust Fund for Grizzlies & Wolves

When animals are no longer listed under the Endangered Species Act, federal programs to monitor and protect them end. Special funding from independent source proposed.

Coming off the Endangered Species Act list means the end of federal funding for monitoring, human-animal conflict mitigation and population management efforts of formerly endangered species. The US Fish and Wildlife Service grizzly bear and wolf management costs for 3 states runs into the millions of dollars. Those expenses fall to the individual states after a species is delisted. The trust fund proposal would ease this burden.

The idea behind the trust makes sense: people from all over the country come to the Rockies to see wolves and grizzly bears. Individual states shouldn’t have to bear the brunt of management costs for a national resource. If it is set up and handled well, the program would be expanded to other species in other states. Individuals and conservation organizations could contribute knowing that the money is earmarked for former endangered species management. Changes in government would not affect the funding. When individual state legislatures are expected to come up with money funding levels vary. When those funding levels are low inadequate management is the result.

It makes sense to take the long term care of our special species out of direct government control and put it in the hands of a trust fund board made up of wildlife biologists, conservation groups and financial specialists (somebody has to make sure the fund keeps earning sufficient interest). More stable, consistent programs are likely to result.