A Wyoming special assistant attorney general this week accused the Fish and Wildlife Service of a “brazen disregard” for the law by delaying a decision on removing Endangered Species Act protections for Yellowstone-area grizzly bears
In a court filing, Jay Jerde on Thursday asserted the latest grizzly decision delay “reeks of arrogance and entitlement” and shows that the federal agency’s “willingness to flout the law knows no bounds.” The state wants a judge to order the FWS to make a grizzly bear decision by Oct. 31, instead of the Jan. 31, 2025 date recently reset by the agency.
Wyoming also wants the Fish and Wildlife Service taken to task.
“The [agency’s] actions leave the impression that they believe they answer to no one when it comes to the ESA petition process, particularly not to this court,” Jerde wrote, adding that “if that is their mindset, then this court can use its inherent authority to set them straight.”
