Yellowstone grizzly bears are not an endangered species — but ranchers like me are

Mary A. Thoman

I was born a Wyoming cowgirl. It’s in my blood. My Austrian immigrant mother carried me on the back of a horse while I was in her womb. For 88 years since, I have lived the life of a rancher in western Wyoming, raising sheep along with my family. Now a lawsuit in federal court is threatening our way of life. Special interest groups are suing the federal government to have the grizzly bear population in and around Yellowstone National Park returned to the endangered species list — contrary to the recommendations of research. If those special interest groups succeed, state and local officials will no longer be able to effectively manage the population that lives in their backyards. And grizzlies are bound to grow too numerous and pose a greater threat to those who live in the area. A soaring population of grizzly bears has already taken over my family’s grazing territory, killing our sheep in broad daylight and leaving us with heavy losses. In one year alone, we lost 259 ewes and 186 lambs. Worse yet, one of our sheepherders was attacked and mauled by a full-grown grizzly. He barely escaped with his life. Due to mismanagement of the grizzly, we have been forced to give up the lands my family has grazed sheep on since 1978. Bears or bureaucrats — I'm not sure which is worse...MORE