U.S. Appeals to Resume Logging in Idaho's Grizzly Bear Habitat
The U.S. government appealed to the Ninth Circuit to reverse a logging project block in Idaho.
Why it matters: The case underscores legal conflicts between environmental protections and resource development. It's key for legal pros tracking federal environmental law enforcement and litigation trends.
- The logging project covers 55,000 acres in Idaho's Sapphire Mountains of the Bitterroot National Forest.
- A federal magistrate judge halted the project in April 2026, citing lack of proper analysis on grizzly bear presence.
- Grizzly bears in Idaho are a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act since 1975.
- Environmental groups Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Native Ecosystems Council challenged the project due to habitat concerns.
On June 4, 2026, the U.S. government filed a motion with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals seeking to overturn a lower court's injunction that blocked a logging project in Idaho's Bitterroot National Forest. The project spans over 55,000 acres in the Sapphire Mountains, a key habitat for grizzly bears.
A federal magistrate judge halted the project in April 2026 after determining that the U.S. Forest Service failed to adequately evaluate new evidence of grizzly bears in the area. Grizzly bears in Idaho have been protected as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act since 1975.
The Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Native Ecosystems Council brought the legal challenge, highlighting environmental concerns tied to increased road density and its impact on grizzly habitats. Mike Garrity, executive director of the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, explained that most grizzlies are killed within a third of a mile of roads, particularly logging roads, which the Forest Plan aims to limit in these habitats.
The appeal highlights ongoing tensions between federal environmental regulations aiming to protect endangered species and resource development goals such as forest health management and wildfire risk reduction. Legal professionals should monitor how this case influences enforcement of environmental laws and agency project assessments.
By the numbers:
- 55,000 acres — size of the logging project in Idaho's Sapphire Mountains
- 1975 — year grizzly bears were listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act
- About 50 — estimated grizzly bears in Idaho’s Selkirk region
Yes, but: Details of the government's specific legal arguments in the appeal have not been disclosed, and the Ninth Circuit's decision timeline remains unknown.
What's next: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether to uphold or reverse the injunction, with no set date for ruling.