Ellis Julin

Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho have said the bears' numbers have recovered since listing, and they should be put under state-level management.

Wildlife advocacy groups say bears only occupy a small fraction of their historic range.

There are also concerns over how hunting could further impact population recovery.

Grizzlies will remain federally protected until the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service makes its final decision.

For NPR News, I'm Ellis Julin in Missoula, Montana.

State wildlife officials confirmed the bear sighting in mountains roughly 100 miles from Yellowstone National Park.

The first time a grizzly has been spotted there since bear recovery began in the 1970s.

The regions around Yellowstone and Glacier National Park support the two largest populations of bears in Montana.

As their numbers grow, the bears are seeking out new habitat in their historic ranges.

Congress is currently considering legislation to take these bears off the endangered species list.

Montana and Wyoming state officials say this population has sufficiently recovered and are requesting grizzlies be delisted.

U.S.

Fish and Wildlife last January rejected state's petitions to delist bears in the lower 48.

For NPR News, I'm Ellis Ju Lin in Missoula, Montana.

And I'm Janine Herbst, and you're listening to NPR News from Washington.

State wildlife officials confirmed the bear sighting in mountains roughly 100 miles from Yellowstone National Park.

The first time a grizzly's been spotted there since bear recovery began in the 1970s.

The regions around Yellowstone and Glacier National Park support the two largest populations of bears in Montana.

As their numbers grow, the bears are seeking out new habitat in their historic ranges.