the greater Yellowstone area rapidly increased during the late 1960s and early 1970s. This 

 population, along with other grizzly populations in the lower 48 states, was listed as threatened 

 under the Endangered Species Act in 1975. As a result of this listing, many management 

 changes were made to benefit grizzlies. A recovery plan was prepared and approved in 1 982 and 

 revised in 1993. The success of recovery efforts is evident in the estimates of bear numbers in 

 the area, increasing fi-om approximately 230 in the late 1960s to a minimum of over 361 bears 

 today. This has set the stage for a possible delisting of the species and a return of this species to 

 state management, which is predicated on a state management plan. 



