Judge delays start of first grizzly bear hunts by two more weeks

BREAKING 10:55 a.m.: A U.S. judge has delayed for two more weeks the first grizzly bear hunts to be held in the Lower 48 states in almost three decades.

Thursday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen leaves the fate of about 700 bruins in the Northern Rockies in limbo as he considers whether federal protections for the animals should be restored.

Christensen already delayed the hunts in Wyoming and Idaho once, with an order that came two days before hunting was set to begin on Sept. 1.

Wildlife advocates and Native American tribes say bears living in and around Yellowstone National Park face continued threats to their survival.

The U.S. Interior Department in 2017 declared the animals no longer needed federal protections.

Up to 23 bears would be allowed to be killed in the hunts.

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Opponents of grizzly bear hunts in Wyoming and Idaho have asked a judge to delay hunting for another two weeks while he considers if federal protections for the animals should be restored.

U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen last month put on hold for two weeks the first grizzly bear hunts to be scheduled in the Lower 48 states in decades.

That order expires Thursday.

Hunt opponents say state officials could immediately allow bears to be killed unless Christensen extends the delay.

The U.S. Interior Department last year lifted protections on about 700 grizzlies in and around Yellowstone National Park. Wildlife advocates and Native American tribes have sued to restore their threatened species status.

Government biologists say the Yellowstone bears have recovered and should be managed by state wildlife agencies.