Plan would keep about 1,000 bears in northwest Montana

Montana officials have adopted a plan to maintain the largest grizzly population in the Lower 48 states at roughly current numbers if the animal loses its federal protections.

Monday’s vote by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission sets a target of at least 800 grizzlies across a 16,000-square mile expanse of the state just south of the U.S.-Canada border.

Officials say they would maintain the population at its current level of roughly 1,000 bears to provide a protective buffer.

Grizzlies in the Lower 48 are federally protected as a threatened species.

Efforts to remove protections stalled in September when a judge reversed a U.S. Interior Department decision that would have allowed hunting of the animals in areas around Yellowstone National Park.