Grizzly bears are not present in the wild in South Dakota today. Reports of sightings are generally misidentifications of other bear species or rare instances of transient individuals. The current distribution of wild grizzly bears in the contiguous United States is limited to specific recovery areas far from South Dakota.
Grizzly Bears: A Look Back
Grizzly bears once roamed across a vast portion of North America, with their historical range encompassing much of the western contiguous United States. This territory included areas now known as South Dakota, particularly within the Black Hills. Before 1800, an estimated 50,000 grizzly bears were distributed across 18 western states.
Their decline began with European settlers, who viewed them as a threat to livestock and human safety. This led to widespread hunting, poisoning, and trapping, often encouraged by bounty programs. Habitat loss, driven by human settlement, agriculture, logging, and mining, further contributed to their disappearance. By approximately 1890, grizzly bears were extirpated from South Dakota.
Where Grizzlies Stand Today
There are no established, wild populations of grizzly bears in South Dakota at present. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has identified six primary recovery zones for grizzly bears in the lower 48 states, none of which are located in South Dakota.
Current grizzly bear populations in the contiguous United States are concentrated in states such as Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington. The estimated total population in the lower 48 states ranges between 1,500 and 1,913 individuals. Reports of grizzlies in South Dakota are often misidentifications of American black bears or very rare occurrences of individuals dispersing from distant established populations.
Other Bears of South Dakota
While grizzly bears are absent, American black bears are present in South Dakota, primarily within the Black Hills. Black bears were also historically extirpated from the state due to hunting and habitat destruction. However, they have been observed moving back into the region in recent years, though officials are still monitoring if a resident population will establish.
Distinguishing black bears from grizzly bears involves observing several physical characteristics. Grizzlies have a prominent shoulder hump, which is absent on black bears. Grizzlies typically have a dished or concave facial profile, while black bears possess a straighter profile from their forehead to their nose. Additionally, grizzly bears have smaller, more rounded ears, whereas black bears have larger, more pointed ears. Their claws also differ, with grizzlies having longer, straighter claws adapted for digging, and black bears having shorter, more curved claws better suited for climbing trees.