Comment from Reuscher, F. Carlene

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik,I oppose the July 2026 revisions to the proposed grizzly bear 4(d) rule under Docket No. FWS-R6-ES-2024-0186.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should withdraw these revisions and retain strong, enforceable federal protections for lower-48 grizzly bears until recovery is actually achieved and states commit to protect them.The Service’s own 2025 scientific review found that lower-48 grizzlies remain likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future. These bears still occupy only a fraction of their historic range, and several populations remain isolated. Long-term recovery requires secure habitat and meaningful connectivity between populations.The proposed tiered management system would give federal, state, and tribal agencies broader authority to kill, capture, relocate, and otherwise take grizzly bears through future agreements. The proposal does not provide enough detail about the standards, limits, enforcement, or public review governing those agreements. The public therefore cannot meaningfully evaluate how much additional take could occur.The Service should also reject expanded exceptions for bears injured or killed in traps set for other animals. Incidental trapping and livestock conflicts already contribute to preventable grizzly deaths.Federal policy should instead prioritize nonlethal conflict prevention, habitat protection, population connectivity, and strong oversight.Please withdraw the July 2026 revisions, retain strict protections against grizzly bear take, and ensure that all management decisions advance full recovery.* Literature cited in this comment has been added to the administrative record by WildEarth Guardians.F. Carlene Reuschercarlene-r@roadrunner.com1866 Kinglet Ct, Costa Mesa, CA, USACosta Mesa, California 92626