Montana wildlife officials are proposing to maintain the largest grizzly bear population in the Lower 48 states at its current level of about 1,000 animals even if the population loses its federal protections.

A proposed rule released Monday by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks sets a population objective of at least 800 grizzlies in northwestern Montana, an area centered on Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Spokesman Dillon Tabish says officials would manage for about 1,000 bears to give the population a protective buffer.

“By putting population objectives into rule, FWP is not only demonstrating a commitment to a healthy grizzly population, but we are strengthening the regulatory mechanisms associated with population management,” said FWP director Martha Williams. “Additionally, the rule making process allows for ample public comment and engagement on this most recent element of the conservation strategy.”

Federal and state officials have been laying the groundwork to lift protections for northwestern Montana bears.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in early May took its first step toward removing Northwest Montana’s grizzly bears from the “threatened” species list.

The Yellowstone National Park area’s population of grizzlies was delisted in September 2017, and the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem grizzlies were widely expected to be next.

The Fish and Wildlife Commission will vote on the proposed rule during their Aug. 9 meeting. If the proposed rule is approved by the commission, it will move into a public comment period by late August and ultimately go back to the commission for final approval in December.

Public comment will be taken at the Aug. 9 commission meeting in Helena and via live video at all FWP regional offices. The meeting starts at 8:30 a.m. and will be streamed live via video to all FWP regional offices. The meeting will also be audio streamed online at fwp.mt.gov.