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Polar Bear Proposal
USFWS proposes polar bear listing

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service reported in December that it is proposing to list the polar bear as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. The primary cause cited was global warming and the projected loss of arctic sea ice that the bears use as a platform for hunting seals. After a 90-day public comment period and scientific review, the Service is expects to reach a decision on whether to list the bear sometime in 2008.

This marks the first time that a species has been proposed for ESA listing as a result of a projected decline caused by global warming, and the proposal is causing controversy in the hunting community because recent studies show bear populations to be healthy and increasing, with as many as 25,000 across the arctic. Listing the polar bear under the ESA would not necessarily affect the legality of hunting in Canada, but American hunters would likely not be allowed to bring their trophies home.

Read a special message on the polar bear issue from Sports Afield's publisher.