Grizzlies at Risk: How Roadless Rule Rollbacks Pose Dangerous Threats

Wyoming Wildlife Advocates & Jackson Hole Bear Solutions

ROADLESS ROLLBACK PUTS GRIZZLIES AND WILD FORESTS AT RISK

Grizzly bears depend on large, unbroken landscapes to survive. But right now, the very wild places they need are under threat.

The proposed rollback of the 2001 Roadless Rule jeopardizes nearly 58 million acres of undeveloped national forests across the country, including crucial habitat in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. These roadless forests have remained intact for nearly 25 years because of protections that prevent roads from fragmenting them for logging, oil and gas drilling, and other industrial activities.

For grizzlies, more roads mean more danger. Roads do not just carve up habitat, they increase deadly encounters with people, shrink secure denning areas, and make food sources harder to reach. Fragmented habitat also puts mothers with cubs at higher risk, pushing this vulnerable species closer to the edge.

And grizzlies are not the only ones at risk. Roadless forests safeguard clean drinking water for 60 million Americans, provide world-class recreation opportunities, and protect thousands of miles of fish habitat. Rolling back protections would increase wildfire risk, destroy migration corridors for elk and deer, and drain taxpayer dollars into an already overburdened road system.

The Roadless Rule has long been one of America’s most popular conservation measures, supported by millions of people. Weakening it now would undo decades of progress, at the expense of wildlife, wild places, and future generations.

Tell the U.S. Forest Service to keep our roadless forests wild. Protect grizzlies and the landscapes they call home.

SUBMIT YOUR COMMENTS ON ROADLESS RULES HERE

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Roadless Rule FAQ

What is the Roadless Rule?

The Roadless Area Conservation Rule, often called the Roadless Rule, is a federal policy created in 2001 that protects nearly 58 million acres of undeveloped national forests from road building and industrial development.

Why is it important?

Roadless areas provide clean drinking water for more than 60 million Americans, habitat for wildlife like grizzly bears, elk, and native fish, and world-class recreation opportunities. They also help fight climate change by keeping old forests intact.

Who enforces the Roadless Rule?

The U.S. Forest Service manages and enforces the Roadless Rule across our national forests and grasslands.

Does it allow any roads at all?

Yes. The Roadless Rule has built-in exceptions. Roads can be built for emergencies such as wildfire response, floods, or to connect isolated communities. Routine forest management and habitat restoration can also still occur.

Why is it in danger of being rolled back?

Industries like logging and oil and gas want access to the timber, minerals, and resources in roadless areas. Rolling back the rule would open the door to more roads, logging, and drilling.

How do roads harm forests and wildlife?

Roads fragment habitat, pollute drinking water, increase wildfire risk, and make it easier for harmful industrial activities to spread into previously untouched areas. For wildlife like grizzlies, more roads mean more dangerous human encounters and less secure habitat.

Is the Roadless Rule popular?

Yes. It is considered one of the most successful conservation measures in U.S. history. Millions of Americans spoke up in favor of it when it was created, and it continues to have broad bipartisan support.

JACKSON HOLE BEAR SOLUTIONS BANNERS

As bears begin to undergo hyperphagia – a natural behavior where they increase their food intake to prepare for winter, it’s important to store trash and compost properly to avoid preventable human-bear conflict.

When bears get into trash, they learn that scavenging in garbage is an easy way to pack on additional calories. Who doesn’t want free lunch right? Wrong! This trains them that they can continue to do this and habituates them to this behavior, which ultimately often leads to lethal removal or relocation.

Find our banners and signage around town or in your neighborhood, snap a photo and tag us on your social media to be featured and spread the word!

JACKSON HOLE BEAR SOLUTIONS CONTINUES TO WORK ON PUBLIC EDUCATION

We are continuously getting messaging out about making Teton County a bear safe community through radio announcements, signs around neighborhoods, trash can distribution, banners around town, and stickers on cans telling people not to overfill their cans. Both black bears and grizzly bears continue to be involved in conflicts throughout the County. We can and must do better and we will continue these efforts until we get to zero human/bear conflicts!

Once again, a huge thank you to the National Elk Refuge for continuing our partnership to store our cans in a secure location and helping us with a forklift when we get loads delivered.

TO DATE WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED OVER 1,350 TRASH CANS THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY!

ALL OF THESE ACTIONS ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY YOU!

HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE MEETING PROTEST

On Friday, September 5th, Wyoming Wildlife Advocates joined community members at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center to make our voices heard as the House Natural Resources Committee, alongside Congresswoman Harriet Hageman, held a meeting in Grand Teton National Park. The committee has supported efforts to remove Endangered Species Act protections for grizzly bears, putting the future of this iconic species at risk.

People gathered peacefully at the designated First Amendment site to stand for continued grizzly recovery and to oppose premature delisting. Signs were created, postcards to congress were written by members of the public, and many demonstrated the deep public support for protecting grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

We are grateful to everyone who showed up to speak on behalf of grizzlies. Your presence matters, and together we are sending a clear message: grizzly bears deserve lasting protections that ensure their survival for generations to come.