The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is not extinct; it remains the most widespread bear species globally, with a large and generally stable population estimated at around 200,000 individuals worldwide. While the species as a whole is secure, many isolated populations have faced—and continue to face—severe threats, leading to a complex and highly varied conservation status. The question of extinction persists due to massive historical losses across certain regions, making the difference between global survival and localized disappearance key to understanding its current standing.
Global Status and Current Range
Brown bears possess an expansive distribution that stretches across western North America and much of Eurasia. In North America, the largest populations thrive in Alaska and western Canada, including the Yukon and Northwest Territories. The North American brown bear includes the Grizzly bear (U. a. horribilis), which inhabits inland areas, and the Kodiak bear (U. a. middendorffi), a distinct subspecies found exclusively on the Kodiak Archipelago in Alaska.
Across Eurasia, the species extends from Western Europe through Russia and into East Asia, including the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Russia holds the largest single population globally, estimated at over 120,000 animals. Populations also exist in the Carpathian region, particularly in Romania, and across Scandinavia.
The brown bear’s adaptability allows it to inhabit a diverse range of environments, from sea level to elevations of 5,000 meters in the Himalayas. Although often associated with forested areas, these animals thrive in various habitats, including alpine meadows, tundra, and open country.
Why Extinction Concerns Persist
The concern about brown bear extinction is rooted in the massive reduction of their historical range, particularly in the southern and western portions of their distribution. Before European settlement, the species was found across nearly 50% of North America, reaching south into central Mexico and east to the Great Plains. This extensive historical presence was dramatically curtailed by habitat loss and intensive human persecution during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The term for these localized disappearances is extirpation, meaning a species has gone extinct in a specific geographical area but still survives elsewhere. In the contiguous United States, brown bears were extirpated from over 98% of their historical range. Examples of populations hunted to extinction include the California grizzly bear, now only represented on the state flag, and the Mexican grizzly bear, which vanished in the 1960s.
Similar losses occurred in Europe, where brown bears were hunted to local extinction in many Western European nations centuries ago. They became extinct in Great Britain by the 11th century and in Germany by 1835. These historical events explain why many people in densely populated regions believe the species to be extinct, as it has not been present in their local ecosystem for generations.
Conservation Status and Remaining Challenges
Globally, the brown bear is classified as a species of “Least Concern” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, a status shared only with the American black bear. This global stability masks significant regional vulnerability, as many small, isolated populations are classified as threatened or critically endangered. For instance, the Marsican brown bear in central Italy has a population of only about 50 individuals, and the Himalayan brown bear occupies a mere 2% of its former range.
Modern challenges prevent full recovery and pose new threats to the species’ long-term survival. Habitat fragmentation, caused by expanding human infrastructure like roads and development, isolates bear populations and limits genetic exchange. Human-wildlife conflict remains a primary cause of mortality, often resulting from bears seeking food near human settlements, which leads to the removal of “problem bears.”
Climate Change and Conservation Efforts
Climate change is an emerging threat, particularly affecting reproductive success during hibernation. Warmer winters may disrupt the hibernation cycle, causing females to require more energy and potentially lowering reproductive rates. Conservation efforts are focused on managing these conflicts, protecting remaining habitat corridors, and supporting reintroduction efforts in areas like the lower 48 US states to restore connectivity.