The US Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to delist the Yellowstone grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) as a distinct population segment, pursuant to the 1996 Distinct Population Segment Policy, on grounds that these bears have achieved their recovery goals. In this paper I discuss the Distinct Population Segment Policy and suggest that it does not provide a workable basis for classifying populations for purposes of delisting or down listing decisions, and I review aspects of the Yellowstone grizzly bear delisting decision.