BOISE, Idaho (AP) — At least three different legal challenges launched Friday against the U.S. government's decision to lift protections for grizzly bears in the Yellowstone National Park area that have been in place for more than 40 years.

Some of the groups involved are the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Center for Biological Diversity, The Humane Society and WildEarth Guardians. They sent 60-day notices of their intent to sue to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Some of the groups say the decision to lift grizzly bear protections this summer is flawed because it only involves Yellowstone rather than the West as a whole.

There are an estimated 700 grizzlies in the Yellowstone area that includes northwestern Wyoming, southwestern Montana and eastern Idaho. The Justice Department didn't immediately respond to inquiries from The Associated Press.

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