https://www.fws.gov/press-rele...es-status-assessment


PRESS RELEASE

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Finds Polar Bear Status Remains Threatened
Sep 25, 2023
Media Contacts
Andrea Medeiros


ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as required by the Endangered Species Act, has completed a status review of the polar bear, the second such review since the species was listed as threatened in 2008. The review, informed by the Service’s Species Status Assessment (SSA), concluded that the polar bear continues to meet the definition of a threatened species under the ESA.

The Service listed the polar bear as threatened due to the loss of its sea ice habitat. The SSA and status review continue to support the conclusion that polar bears rely heavily on sea ice for survival, and loss of sea ice is continuing due to a rapidly warming Arctic.

Globally, there are 19 subpopulations of polar bears in the United States, Canada, Norway, Greenland and Russia. Two polar bear subpopulations in Alaska are shared across international boundaries: the Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation with Canada and the Chukchi Sea subpopulation with Russia. The current population estimate is 26,000; however, there is a lack of data on numerous subpopulations and no population estimates for several. The SSA found sea ice conditions and polar bear abundance similar to conditions five years ago when the last status review was completed. Future projections portray the likely effect of continued warming will be that most polar bear subpopulations will decline or continue to decline.

The SSA framework is an analytical approach developed by the Service to inform ESA decisions. This SSA brought together the best available Western science and Indigenous Knowledge to inform the status review. Additional information on the SSA process can be found here: https://www.fws.gov/project/species-status-assessment.

This status review and the SSA can be found at: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/4958

More: Polar Bear 5-Year Status Review Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov.

Sounds like a BS study by those to do not want any polar bears killed.

Or to allow the import of the 41 polar bears killed by American hunters in 2008 that are still in Canada.

Self serving “ scientists”

quote:

The current population estimate is 26,000; however, there is a lack of data on numerous subpopulations and no population estimates for several.

That is a lot of polar bears. A reasonable harvest quota would not impact the population at all.

This is complete bullshit!

What the USFWS does not bother to tell you is that not allowing polar bear trophies to be imported to the US by successful polar bear hunters in Canada, is that it does not save polar bears. The game departments in The Northwest Territories and Nunavut assign quotas based on the best information available on bear populations and the knowledge of the Inuit who live up there. The quotas are assigned to the respective hunter and trapper associations in the various Arctic communities. Any polar bears killed by US (any non-resident) hunters are bears that are taken under the assigned quota.

A foreign guided hunter for polar bear contributes a substantial amount of money to the local communities. That said, if there are no non-resident hunters being guided, the local hunters that belong to the communities hunter/trapper associations kill the bears that are on quota.

Furthermore, the polar bear hides from the bears are generally sold internationally on the fur market. So the USFWS's stance on this is ridiculous. The game departments assigned quotas are very conservative in the first place. Their position does not change anything with respect to the number of bears killed, but it does negatively impact the Arctic communities as a polar bear killed by a US big game hunter generates a lot more money for the community than it does if killed by a local hunter.

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So the USFWS's stance on this is ridiculous.

It is far more based on feelings then fact. If we can only save one bear it is worth it.

The we do not want anything to die crowd is strong is the USFW.

quote:

Originally posted by Skyline:
This is complete bullshit!

What the USFWS does not bother to tell you is that not allowing polar bear trophies to be imported to the US by successful polar bear hunters in Canada, is that it does not save polar bears. The game departments in The Northwest Territories and Nunavut assign quotas based on the best information available on bear populations and the knowledge of the Inuit who live up there. The quotas are assigned to the respective hunter and trapper associations in the various Arctic communities. Any polar bears killed by US (any non-resident) hunters are bears that are taken under the assigned quota.

A foreign guided hunter for polar bear contributes a substantial amount of money to the local communities. That said, if there are no non-resident hunters being guided, the local hunters that belong to the communities hunter/trapper associations kill the bears that are on quota.

Furthermore, the polar bear hides from the bears are generally sold internationally on the fur market. So the USFWS's stance on this is ridiculous. The game departments assigned quotas are very conservative in the first place. Their position does not change anything with respect to the number of bears killed, but it does negatively impact the Arctic communities as a polar bear killed by a US big game hunter generates a lot more money for the community than it does if killed by a local hunter.

+1.

quote:

Originally posted by Skyline:
This is complete bullshit!

What the USFWS does not bother to tell you is that not allowing polar bear trophies to be imported to the US by successful polar bear hunters in Canada, is that it does not save polar bears. The game departments in The Northwest Territories and Nunavut assign quotas based on the best
information available on bear populations and the knowledge of the Inuit who live up there. The quotas are assigned to the respective hunter and trapper associations in the various Arctic communities. Any polar bears killed by US (any non-resident) hunters are bears that are taken under the assigned quota.

A foreign guided hunter for polar bear contributes a substantial amount of money to the local communities. That said, if there are no non-resident hunters being guided, the local hunters that belong to the communities hunter/trapper associations kill the bears that are on quota.

Furthermore, the polar bear hides from the bears are generally sold internationally on the fur market. So the USFWS's stance on this is ridiculous. The game departments assigned quotas are very conservative in the first place. Their position does not change anything with respect to the number of bears killed, but it does negatively impact the Arctic communities as a polar bear killed by a US big game hunter generates a lot more money for the community than it does if killed by a local hunter.

This is what i attempt to explain to people all the time concerning all the stuff usfw restricts .The problem is that most people that agree with such things know nothing about regulated sport hunting. Quotas and all that goes along with it.