Wyoming
Wyoming lawmakers bring two grizzly bills as future of federal protection grows murky – WyoFile
Uncertainty is swirling around what will become of plans to retain grizzly bears’ federally protected status following a change of presidential administrations and an Interior secretary nominee who’s pledged to delist the bruins and return jurisdiction to the states.
What will become of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s long-awaited and heavily litigated grizzly bear proposal became even cloudier Monday, when the agency announced it was scratching already scheduled public hearings. Federal officials had planned to hold a public hearing in Cody, but that and three other meetings were nixed, “in light of the recent transition and the need for this Administration to review the recent grizzly bear proposed rule,” according to an agency notice.
It’s unclear if the meetings will be rescheduled and equally hazy if Fish and Wildlife’s draft rule is still on the table following a Trump administration regulatory freeze and shift in leadership at the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Fish and Wildlife Service provided no additional information in response to WyoFile inquiries and declined to grant an interview.
Bear bills
Meantime, Wyoming lawmakers will consider two measures that prescribe changes to the future of grizzly bear management in the Equality State.
One proposal, outlined in House Bill 186, “Bear coupons-game and fish,” would allow heavy grizzly bear hunting in 2026 and 2027 on the outskirts of current grizzly range in Wyoming. The measure would require the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to attach a free “bear coupon” to all resident elk licenses issued for areas outside of the grizzly recovery zone, located in the core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Those coupon holders would then be authorized to kill a “brown or black bear or grizzly bear.”
The proposed law declares that the Wyoming Legislature “finds that grizzly bears have recovered in Wyoming and should be removed from the endangered species and threatened species list and that the state should be responsible for management.” As now written, the bill could allow for the start of grizzly bear hunting even while Ursus arctos horribilis remains protected under the Endangered Species Act, which would be a federal crime. It would take effect either 10 days after grizzly bears have been delisted or on Jan. 1, 2026, whichever comes earlier.
Rep. Bob Wharff, R-Evanston, HB 186’s lead sponsor, was unable to be reached for an interview. The all-Republican and mostly Wyoming Freedom Caucus-aligned list of cosponsors include: Reps. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams of Cody, Mike Schmid of La Barge, Nina Webber of Cody, John Winter of Thermopolis and Sens. Dan Dockstader of Afton, Tim French of Powell, Bob Ide of Casper and Troy McKeown of Gillette.
‘You go manage the bears’
Sen. Larry Hicks, a Republican from Baggs, brought the other grizzly-related measure, “Senate File 170, Grizzly bear management prohibition.” In essence, the bill would prohibit the Wyoming Game and Fish Department from using its resources to help manage grizzly bears unless the state is granted jurisdiction.
“We’re just saying [to the federal government], ‘You go manage the bears,’” Hicks told WyoFile. “We’re tired of spending all of the money doing it for you.”
Although grizzly bears have been safeguarded by the Endangered Species Act and managed by the federal government since 1973, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department handles the brunt of the day-to-day duties and has spent over $50 million on grizzly management to date, according to agency estimates. Costs are incurred, for example, when state officials head out to verify if dead free-range cattle were casualties of grizzly depredation, and by red-shirted biologists who’ve shadowed celebrity bruins to keep the animals safe.
Those types of duties would no longer be allowed, though the state senator’s proposal does provide some exceptions. Grizzly management could still occur if it’s “expressly required by statute” or needed for “public safety and welfare.”
“Compensation for grizzly damage doesn’t go away,” Hicks said. “If you’ve got a bear around people’s private property … and they’re a threat to public safety, the Game and Fish Department can still act.”
If SF 170 advances, Hicks intends to amend it. Currently, it’s written so that it would take effect immediately, but he wants to move that back two years because of the change in presidential administrations and makeup of Congress.
“It’ll say, ‘in 24 months, if you haven’t resolved this issue’ — your bears, you manage them,” Hicks said.
Senate File 170’s all-Republican co-sponsors include Winter, Driskill and Rep. Paul Hoeft of Powell.
Neither grizzly bear bill has moved beyond being introduced, though Wharff’s “bear coupon” proposal was referred to the House Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Committee and has until Feb. 7 to be heard there.
Conservation response
Hunting advocacy groups don’t like what they see. The Wyoming Wildlife Federation came out “strongly against” the Fish and Wildlife Service’s grizzly decision, but is leery of “emotional” responses stemming from frustration over not having management.
“These bills are a bit of a tantrum,” said Jess Johnson, the federation’s government affairs director. “I agree that we need state management of grizzly bears. I don’t believe that these bills help our case at all.”
Overzealous state legislatures, she said, are contributing to the consternation some parties have for the federal government relinquishing authority over grizzlies.
“If we could back off, let our incredible professionals do their jobs and stay at the table without this rhetorical pushback, we might be in a better position for grizzlies in the long term,” Johnson said.
Chris Servheen, a retired grizzly bear recovery coordinator for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is a delisting opponent who agreed that lawmakers aren’t helping their state’s cases.
“I do trust the state biologists, but it’s the politicians that have overwhelmed the system,” he said.
House Bill 186, he said, is an example of inappropriate, legislature-driven wildlife management that grizzly bears would face if they were delisted.
“They wouldn’t last very long,” Servheen. “We’re going back to the 1800s. These animals can’t take that kind of pressure. They will disappear. Grizzly bears are way too vulnerable.”
A pair of bills signed into law last week aim to build out a more comprehensive system of literacy education across Wyoming’s public schools.
One mandates evidence-based practices and requires regular screenings for dyslexia, while the other enables the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) to hire a dedicated literacy professional to oversee statewide compliance.
Gov. Mark Gordon’s signing of both bills on Friday was the latest accomplishment of an ongoing push for improved literacy standards. That push has been spearheaded by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder.
“Wyoming is not going to let a single child fall through the cracks,” Degenfelder said during a public bill signing last week. “We are not going to fall behind when it comes to ensuring that our children can read at grade level.”
The primary bill, Senate File 59, establishes a statewide K-12 program for teaching students to read that is built on “evidence based language and literacy instruction, assessment, intervention and professional development that supports educators, engages families and promotes literacy proficiency for all Wyoming students.”
The bill defines evidence-based strategies as those that conform to the science of reading, a term that will be defined and updated by Degenfelder’s office. Nationwide, it generally means putting academic research into practice in classrooms. SF 59 specifically prohibits the exclusive use of “three-cueing” — a strategy once widely employed to teach reading but which education experts now say is outdated and less effective than other strategies.
It also requires annual dyslexia screeners for students below the third grade, and testing for reading difficulties for all students.
The screeners are used to identify the severity of reading difficulties in order to direct “tiered” support that offers the most intensive interventions to the students most in need, while still providing “evidence based” language instruction to all students.
Each school district must formulate an individualized reading plan “for each student identified as having reading difficulties or at risk for poor reading outcomes.”
Districts must now report to the state annually regarding their literacy-related work. Any district where 60% or more of the students are struggling will be required to implement “summer literacy camps or extended supports, including after school support and tutoring.”
The bill also requires literacy related professional development for teachers and specialists “appropriate to their role and level of responsibility” related to literacy education.
SF 59 was backed by dyslexia advocates and literacy specialists.
Senate File 14, the other literacy bill signed into law Friday, appropriates $120,000 annually for the next two years for a full-time position at WDE “to assist school districts in implementing a reading assessment and intervention program and language and literacy programs.”
Both bills go into effect July 1.
LARAMIE — The University of Wyoming and the Mountain West Conference announced the Cowboys’ 2026 football schedule Monday, a slate that opens with the Border War and concludes with back-to-back home games in Laramie.
Wyoming opens the season Sept. 5 on the road against Colorado State in the 118th edition of the Border War. The Cowboys then host Northern Colorado on Sept. 12 in the home opener before traveling to Central Michigan on Sept. 19.
The Cowboys begin Mountain West play Sept. 26 at home against Hawaii in a matchup for the Paniolo Trophy. Wyoming then faces back-to-back road games at North Dakota State on Oct. 3 and San Jose State on Oct. 10.
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Wyoming returns to War Memorial Stadium on Oct. 17 to host conference newcomer Northern Illinois before facing Air Force at home on Oct. 24. The Cowboys will have an open week on Oct. 31.
The Cowboys open November with road games at UNLV on Nov. 7 and at UTEP on Nov. 14, marking Wyoming’s first meeting with the Miners as members of the Mountain West. Wyoming closes conference play by hosting New Mexico on Nov. 21 and wraps up the regular season with a nonconference game against UConn on Nov. 28 in Laramie.
Each Mountain West team will play four home and four road conference games during the 13-week season, which will conclude with the Mountain West Football Championship Game featuring the two teams with the highest conference winning percentages. The championship game date will be announced later.
With the conference schedule set, Mountain West television partners CBS Sports, FOX Sports, and The CW will begin selecting broadcast games, which could include moving some contests to non-Saturday dates. Network assignments and kickoff times will be announced at a later date.
Season ticket renewals for the 2026 Wyoming football season are now available. Fans can renew their tickets online by visiting gowyo.com/tickets and logging into their account.
The 2026 Wyoming prep girls’ basketball season is nearly done. Two state champions were crowned in Classes 1A and 2A last Saturday. Southeast won the 1A title for the third consecutive season, and Sundance won the 2A title for the first time in eight years. Class 3A and 4A held their regional tournaments, which qualified teams for the state tournament later this week in Casper.
WYOPREPS WEEK 12 GIRLS BASKETBALL STANDINGS 2026
These are the girls’ basketball team records for all games played through March 7, 2026. For all but 16 teams, this is the final record of the season. Those squads will play in the 3A-4A state tournament starting on Thursday in Casper.
1A Northwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Burlington 24-5, 8-0
Riverside 14-10, 6-2
Dubois 11-10, 4-4
St. Stephens 3-16, 1-7
Meeteetse 1-20, 1-7
1A Southwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Cokeville 23-4, 10-0
Little Snake River 23-4, 8-2
Farson-Eden 16-12, 5-5
Saratoga 13-11, 5-5
Ft. Washakie 8-13, 2-8
Encampment 3-19, 0-10
1A Northeast: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Upton 16-7, 10-0
Kaycee 13-12, 7-3
Hulett 12-13, 7-3
Arvada-Clearmont 9-12, 4-6
Casper Christian 4-13, 2-8
Midwest 1-16, 0-10
1A Southeast: (Overall Record, followed by Reg. Season Points)
Southeast 24-5, 40 points
Lingle-Ft. Laramie 17-11, 31 points
Lusk 15-13, 26 points
H.E.M. 13-11, 24 points
Rock River 6-14, 12 points
Guernsey-Sunrise 2-18, 4 points
2A Northwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Thermopolis 16-13, 5-1
Greybull 16-15, 4-2
Rocky Mountain 9-17, 2-4
Shoshoni 11-18, 1-5
2A Southwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Wyoming Indian 23-7, 6-0
Big Piney 8-16, 4-2
Kemmerer 2-21, 1-5
Wind River 2-23, 1-5
2A East: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Sundance 23-4, 5-0
Big Horn 21-6, 4-1
Tongue River 18-11, 3-2
Pine Bluffs 17-12, 2-3
Moorcroft 7-18, 1-4
Wright 3-23, 0-5
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3A West: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Cody 24-0, 10-0
Lander 21-4, 9-1
Pinedale 20-5, 7-3
Powell 16-9, 6-4
Lovell 16-10, 4-6
Worland 9-16, 2-8
Lyman 10-11, 2-8
Mountain View 4-19, 0-10
3A East: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Wheatland 22-4, 10-0
Buffalo 13-11, 8-2
Douglas 14-11, 6-4
Burns 16-13, 5-5
Torrington 10-11, 5-5
Glenrock 12-13, 3-7
Newcastle 1-22, 1-9
Rawlins 2-21, 0-10
4A Northwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Green River 23-2, 6-0
Natrona County 9-16, 4-2
Kelly Walsh 8-15, 2-4
Rock Springs 5-20, 0-6
4A Southwest: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Star Valley 16-7, 5-1
Evanston 16-10, 5-1
Riverton 7-19, 1-5
Jackson 3-19, 1-5
4A East: (Overall Record, followed by Conference Record)
Cheyenne East 21-3, 11-1
Cheyenne Central 16-9, 10-2
Sheridan 14-10, 7-5
Thunder Basin 14-10, 6-6
Laramie 12-11, 6-6
Campbell County 1-19, 1-10
Cheyenne South 1-21, 0-11
*The second Campbell County-Cheyenne South girls’ game was canceled.
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Gallery Credit: Courtesy: Marcello Monterastelli Photography & Jared Newland, WHSAA
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