{"abstract":"We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are removing the Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List). This action is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that this subspecies has recovered and no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Our review of the status of this subspecies shows that the threats have been eliminated or reduced, adequate regulatory mechanisms exist, and populations are stable such that the species is not currently, and is not likely to again become, a threatened species within the foreseeable future in all or a significant portion of its range. This rule also removes from the List the American black bear, which is listed within the historical range of the Louisiana black bear due to similarity of appearance, and removes designated critical habitat for the Louisiana black bear. Finally, this rule also announces the availability of a final post-delisting monitoring (PDM) plan for the Louisiana black bear.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR","name":"Interior Department","id":253,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/interior-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/253","parent_id":null,"slug":"interior-department"},{"raw_name":"Fish and Wildlife Service","name":"Fish and Wildlife Service","id":197,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/fish-and-wildlife-service","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/197","parent_id":253,"slug":"fish-and-wildlife-service"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2016/03/11/2016-05206.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":17,"title":50}],"citation":"81 FR 13124","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This rule is effective on April 11, 2016.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2015-0014","FXES11130900000C2-167-FF09E32000"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2016-05206","effective_on":"2016-04-11","end_page":13171,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2016/03/11/2016-05206.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/03/11/2016-05206/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-removal-of-the-louisiana-black-bear-from-the-federal","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2016-05206?publication_date=2016-03-11","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2016-03-11/2016-05206/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":48,"page_views":{"count":2483,"last_updated":"2026-04-23 16:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-03-11/pdf/2016-05206.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-05206.pdf?1457617527","publication_date":"2016-03-11","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2016/03/11/2016-05206.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1018-BA44":{"issue":"201510","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1018-BA44/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-removal-of-the-louisiana-black-bear-from-the-list-of-e","title":"Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of the Louisiana Black Bear From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife\n","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201510&RIN=1018-BA44&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Substantive, Nonsignificant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["1018-BA44"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[{"title":"Federal Register LA Breeding Habitat 1993-2014 MS Breeding Habitat 2014 Bear TRAK 092215 Revised Bigger Legend","document_id":"FWS-R4-ES-2015-0014-0080"},{"title":"Federal Register LA HRPA MS Single Priority Areas LA and MS Permanently Protected Lands Revised 01/2016","document_id":"FWS-R4-ES-2015-0014-0079"},{"title":"Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan for the Louisiana Black Bear ","document_id":"FWS-R4-ES-2015-0014-0078"},{"title":"References Cited for Final Rule - Delist Louisiana Black Bear","document_id":"FWS-R4-ES-2015-0014-0077"},{"title":"List of Acronyms Commonly Used in the Final Delisting Rule for the Louisiana black bear","document_id":"FWS-R4-ES-2015-0014-0076"},{"title":"Draft Post-Delisting Monitoring Plan for the Louisiana Black Bear (Ursus americanus luteolus)","document_id":"FWS-R4-ES-2015-0014-0007"},{"title":"References Cited for Louisiana Black Bear Recovery","document_id":"FWS-R4-ES-2015-0014-0006"},{"title":"List of Acronyms","document_id":"FWS-R4-ES-2015-0014-0005"}],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1018-BA44/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-removal-of-the-louisiana-black-bear-from-the-list-of-e","title":"Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of the Louisiana Black Bear From the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife\n"},"comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=FWS-R4-ES-2015-0014","supporting_documents_count":8,"docket_id":"FWS-R4-ES-2015-0014","regulation_id_number":"1018-BA44","title":"Removal of the Louisiana Black Bear From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2016-03-31T06:00:14Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":false,"signing_date":null,"start_page":13124,"subtype":null,"title":"Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of the Louisiana Black Bear From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Removal of Similarity-of-Appearance Protections for the American Black Bear","toc_doc":"Removal of the Louisiana Black Bear From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Removal of Similarity-of-Appearance Protections for the American Black Bear","toc_subject":"Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants:","topics":["Endangered and threatened species","Exports","Imports","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Transportation"],"type":"Rule","volume":81}