Back in September, a federal judge ruled the Greater Yellowstone grizzlies should be put back under Endangered Species Act protections, which means the federal government has the last say in the bear’s management. But during Wyoming’s legislative session, Governor Mark Gordon signed a bill that authorizes the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission to manage grizzly bears. If the commission does decide to manage the bears, would it be legal?

Senate bill 93 has two parts: first, it authorizes the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission to issue a grizzly bear hunt, and, second, the commission could relocate problem bears to California or other willing states with suitable habitats. Since grizzlies are listed as threatened, these decisions are currently made by the federal government, not by the state.

As to whether this is legal, let’s start…