Associated Press - November 22, 2009 10:15 AM ET

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) - Fewer run-ins between Yellowstone grizzly bears and hunters and renewed efforts to protect them led to a sharp drop in bruin deaths in 2009.

But the decline has failed to quiet growing concerns about the long-term fate of the species. And the lower death toll comes just a year after a record number of the region's grizzlies were shot.

In September, grizzlies in the Yellowstone region of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming were returned to the threatened list.

As the massive bruins den up for winter, biologists say it's unlikely this year's death toll will grow much beyond an estimated 46 killed so far.

Seventy-nine were killed last year - including by hunters acting in self-defense, wildlife officials dealing with problem bears and vehicles that slammed into bears crossing roadways.

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