Grizzly Bears:

Recovered or Recovering

Gabe Sautter
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Table of Contents
Abstract..................................................................................................................................3
Background of Grizzly Endangerment......................................................................................3
Grizzlies Face the End of Their Protection................................................................................4
Grizzlies Officially Delisted.................................................................................................................4
Community Concern..........................................................................................................................5
How to Save the Grizzlies........................................................................................................5
Benefits of Relocation.............................................................................................................6
Returning Grizzlies to Lost Habitats....................................................................................................6
The Lands are Already Protected........................................................................................................6
Protected Lands Have no Residences.................................................................................................7
Conclusion...............................................................................................................................7
References..............................................................................................................................8
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Figure 1 Grizzly bear on the water’s Edge

Abstract
The Grizzly bear is a mighty species that has been endanger of extinction for the better
part of a century. At one point at time there were as many as 100,00 grizzly bears roaming
across our country (Lockwood Animal Rescue). However, when they were added to the
Endangered Species List on July 28, 1975, there was as few as 1,000 remaining (Mott). Now the
recovering species is in danger of losing its federal protection, as states push to delist these
proud animals. However, there are alternative ways to satisfy these states without threating
the safety of the mighty grizzly bear.

Background of Grizzly Endangerment

Grizzly bears once roamed free in North America, but the current population is nothing
compared to what it used to be. The grizzly bear population has fallen prey to the advancement
of society. Clearing of their habitats to create farmland, road construction, hunting, trapping,
and poaching have all wreaked havoc on the population. Grizzles that once roamed over half
the country can now only been found in small pockets, mainly in Yellowstone and Glacier
National Parks (National Wildlife Federation). By the time the Endangered Species Act was in
implemented in 1975, fewer than 1,000 grizzlies remained in the lower 48 states. Grizzly Bears
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were officially added to the endangered species list on July 28, 1975, this made it illegal to kill,
capture, or harm any grizzly bears (Mott).

Grizzlies Face the End of Their Protection

Since they were added to the Endangered Species list in 1975, the grizzly bear
population in the lower 48 states has nearly doubled, with an estimated population of nearly
1,800 bears spread out between Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington (Murray). This a
near remarkable recovery for a species that not too long ago was on the verge of extinction in
the continental United States. The road to grizzly bear recovery has not been a smooth one.
Government killing conservation efforts, states pushing for delisting, and the concern of local
farmers and ranchers all threaten their return.

The First Road Block

There was an effort in the early 2000s to open a corridor that would connect the
Canadian Yukon to Yellowstone National Park (Bieder). This would have encouraged the freer
movement of grizzles between the Yukon, and their old home ranges in Idaho, Wyoming, and
Montana. This plan was blocked however by the George W. Bush Administration. The
administration did this because local ranchers and farmers fired for their livestock (Bieder). This
corridor would have helped expand the genetic diversity of the grizzly bear population in the
lower 48 states. This is important for the survival of the returning grizzly population because
they are isolated from the larger population meaning they are reproducing from a limited gene
pool. This limited gene pool will eventually start to take a toll on the health and sustainability of
the species and could make it to where the lower 48 grizzles would be unable to reproduce
with the rest of the species.

Grizzlies Officially Delisted

This is not the only obstacle that has faced the recovery of the grizzly bear population.
As early as 2005, the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed delisting the Yellow Stone- Area Bears.
They believed that because the population had risen to 600 bears, from 300 hundred when
they were listed, that the grizzlies in the Yellowstone area had recovered. In the Spring of 2007,
the organization officially delisted the bears (Mott). Conservation groups and local tribes quickly
filed lawsuits to reverse this action. It was not until 2009 when a U.S. 9 th Circuit Court of
Appeals Judge reversed the decision and restored federal protections to the grizzly bears
(Mott). The species would remain listed until 2017 when the Fish and Wildlife Service once
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again announced that the yellow stone grizzlies were being delisted. This delisting was met with
similar backlash as the first. Almost a year after the species was removed from the endangered
species list for a second time, the states of Idaho and Wyoming finalized a Grizzly hunt.
Between the two hunts, up to 23 bears could be taken (Mott). This hunt would later be
postponed by order of a federal judge so that she could hear arguments from environmental
and tribal groups. The Grizzlies were once again returned to the Endangered Species List in
September of 2018. This officially put an end to the Idaho and Wyoming hunts (Mott).

Community Concern

The farming and ranching communities in Montana and Idaho have been concerned
with the rising population of grizzly bears. They are concerned that the rising number of
grizzlies in their areas will start to affect their livestock. While these are logical concerns, there
have been very few incidents involving grizzly bears and livestock, especially since the livestock
is not traditionally part of the bear’s diet. Ranchers and Farmers are not the only ones who are
concerned about the return of the grizzly bears. Local residents also have their concerns about
living with grizzly bears. Residents fear for their safety if large numbers of grizzly bears return to
the area.

How to Save the Grizzlies

The main argument for the

delisting of the grizzly bear
stims from the increasing
number of bears is certain
areas. Farmers and ranchers in
Idaho and Montana are
fearing for their livestock as
the grizzlies return. There is a
simple solution to this issue.
Relocate part of the resurging
population to more
surrounding states. There are
currently only six designated
recovery zones dedicated to
grizzly recovery. These areas
were chosen because they Figure 2 Current designated recovery zones
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provided six different ecosystems suitable for grizzlies. They are the Greater Yellowstone
Ecosystem, the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, the Bitterroot Ecosystem, the North
Cascade Ecosystem, the Selkirk Ecosystem, and the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem (Mott). If the Fish
and Wildlife Service add more recovery zones, then the population of grizzlies will be more
dispersed across the northwest. States like California and Colorado would provide a more than

adequate recovery zone for this species.

Benefits of Relocation
Returning Grizzlies to Lost Habitats

The grizzly bear used to be able to be found as far south as Mexico. The lands they
inhabited stretch from the Alaskan
frontier, through the Yukon and the
Great Plains, reaching as far south as
the Rio Grande (National Wildlife
Federation). Today grizzlies only occupy
a fraction of this area. By adding more
designated recovery zones in
surrounding state, the bears will be
returning to an area that they haven’t
inhabited in nearly 100 years (Lockwood
Animal Rescue Center). The state of
California even has a grizzly bear on
their state flag, yet the state is no longer
home to any grizzly bears. This will give
the population a much greater diversity,
as they will occupy more diverse Figure 3 Current versus historic land occupied by grizzly bears
ecosystems spread out across a
multitude of areas.

The Lands are Already Protected

California has more protected wilderness areas than any other state. California has 153
protected wilderness areas across their state (Wilderness Connect). With that much protected
land, that means there is more than enough land to host a small recovering grizzly bear
population. Colorado is another possible host state for grizzly bears. Colorado has protected
conservation land that is comprised of nearly 1 million acres (www.blm.gov). Relocating grizzly
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bears to either of these states would not require the addition of any new federally protected
land. If the land is already dedicated to wildlife conservation, it would be simple to relocate
some of the recovering species to these areas.

Protected Lands Have no Residences

In federally protected wildlife conservation lands, there are no residents. Since it is the local
residence pressuring states to move to delist the grizzly bears, moving part of the population to
an area away from people mean there is no concern for personal safety. If the growing grizzly
population is dispersed to new areas that means they are less likely to interfere with local
livestock. Since there are no farms or ranches in the national parks that will serve as new
recovery zone, then the grizzlies will have plenty of land to roam before coming close enough to
raise concern. Without the pressure from farmers and ranchers, then states will not be as
pressed to push for delisting.

Conclusion
There are plenty of people and organizations lobbying for the removal of grizzly bears
from the endangered species list. While the population has doubled since they have been under
federal protection, most of the population is located in two of the six designated ecosystems.
As the population continues to grow in these areas, states will continue to push to delist the
grizzly bears. Lifting federal protection from one of these areas could have serious implications
on the survival of the species. To avoid risking the survival of this species, a new plan must be
implemented. The relocation of part of the species to existing protected federal lands in
surrounding states will help to ease the mind of farmers, ranchers, and state law makers alike.
This is who we save the grizzly bears, so that they can be admired for generations to come.
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References
Bieder, Robert E. Bear. Reaktion Books, 2005. 

Derych, John. “Brown / Grizzly Bear Facts.” North American Bear Center, North American
Dear Center, 26 Jan. 2021, bear.org/brown-grizzly-bear-facts/. 

“Grizzly Bear.” National Wildlife Federation, The National Wildlife Federation,

www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Grizzly-Bear. 

“Grizzly Bears.” Lockwood Animal Rescue Center, lockwoodarc.org/grizzly-bears. 

Mott, Nick, et al. “Timeline: A History Of Grizzly Bear Recovery In The Lower 48
States.” MTPR, Montana Public Radio, 14 May 2019, www.mtpr.org/post/timeline-history-
grizzly-bear-recovery-lower-48-states. 

Murray, David. “Change in Administration Won't Necessarily End Federal Efforts to Delist
Grizzly Bears Protections.” Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls Tribune, 7 Dec. 2020,
www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2020/11/30/montana-grizzly-bear-population-grow-
near-extinction/6432036002/. 

Native American Animals: the Bear (Mato) Is a Gift to Mother Earth and Her People, Native
Hope, blog.nativehope.org/native-american-animals-bear-mato-is-a-gift-to-mother-earth-
and-her-people. 

“Programs: National Conservation Lands: Colorado: Bureau of Land Management.” Colorado |

Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior,
www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/colorado. 

Rott, Nathan. “As Grizzlies Come Back, Frustration Builds Over Continued Protections.” NPR,
NPR, 2 Feb. 2019, www.npr.org/2019/02/02/688553708/as-grizzlies-come-back-
frustration-builds-over-continued-protections. 

“Wilderness Connect.” Wilderness Connect - University Of Montana, University of Montana, 12

Aug. 2016, wilderness.net/learn-about-wilderness/fast-facts/default.php.