Last month 17 Native American tribes, clans and individuals filed suit challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to lift protections for grizzly bears in the Yellowstone National Park area.
According to AP:
The Native American plaintiffs argue that trophy hunting for grizzly bears goes against their religious and spiritual beliefs. The lawsuit filed June 30 asks a federal judge to rule that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must consider the Native Americans' beliefs and consult adequately with them before removing grizzly protections that have been in place since 1975....
Basing a legal challenge of an Endangered Species Act decision on religious beliefs and inadequate tribal consultation has not been tried before, said the plaintiffs' attorney, Jeff Rasmussen.
