United States Ninth Circuit

In an appeal arising from a challenge to the decision by the defendant removing the Yellowstone grizzly from the endangered species list, summary judgment in favor of the plaintiff is affirmed on the issue of whether the defendant rationally supported its determination that potential whitebark pine declines did not threaten the Yellowstone grizzly bear, but reversed with respect to the defendant's determination that existing regulatory mechanisms are adequate to protect a recovered Yellowstone grizzly population.

Appellate Information

• Argued 03/07/2011
• Decided 11/22/2011
• Published 11/22/2011

Judges

• TALLMAN, Before SIDNEY R. THOMAS, SUSAN P. GRABER, and RICHARD C. TALLMAN, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• Thomas France (argued), National Wildlife Federation, Missoula, MT; David K.W. Wilson, Jr., Reynolds, Motl, and Sherwood, Helena, MT, for defendant-intervenor-appellant National Wildlife Federation., Douglas L. Honnold (argued), Timothy J. Preso, Jenny K. Harbine, Earthjustice, Bozeman, MT; Jack R. Tuholske, Tuholske Law Office PC, Missoula, MT, for plaintiff-appellee Greater Yellowstone Coalition.