Federal judge issues order for blocking first Yellowstone-area grizzly bear hunt

First Yellowstone-area grizzly hunt in 40 years blocked by federal judge

A federal judge in Montana on Thursday issued a court order temporarily blocking the first Yellowstone-area grizzly bear hunts in more than 40 years, siding with native American groups and environmentalists seeking to restore the animals' protected status.

The 14-day restraining order came two days before Wyoming and Idaho were scheduled to open licensed grizzly hunts allowing as many as 23 bears in the two states to be shot and killed for sport.

Groups opposing the hunts were still awaiting a decision on the larger question of whether the federal government should return grizzlies to protection under the Endangered Species Act.

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