Grizzly Bear – Ursus arctos horribilis

Grizzly Bear Photo by Chris Morgan

Since pre-historic times, grizzly bears have been an integral part of the natural heritage of the West. Before the arrival of Europeans to North America, grizzly bear populations were thriving in all western U.S. states and south into Mexico. In the lower 48 states alone it is estimated that there were 50,000 – 100,000 grizzly bears when Lewis and Clark were exploring the west.

In the last century, the grizzly bear population in the lower 48 states has dropped to just over 1,000 individuals, and they have lost 98% of their original habitat. Because of this decline, they were listed as “threatened” under the federal Endangered Species Act in 1975.

Currently, there are believed to be fewer than 20 grizzly bears in the North Cascades Ecosystem in Washington State, and another 50 – 70 in the Selkirk Mountain Ecosystem, which includes parts of eastern Washington, northern Idaho and southern British Columbia. Wildlife agencies in these regions have set up recovery areas to focus their management efforts on landscapes that have the most potential to support viable populations of grizzly bears.

The Grizzly Bear Outreach Project works with communities in the North Cascades and Selkirk Mountains to educate residents about;

• Grizzly bear biology and behavior,
• how to keep bears away from your home
• what to do in an encounter with a bear, and
• where to find other resources about grizzly bears.

If you live in the North Cascades or Selkirks and would like a presentation on black bears, please contact us.