Grizzly bears are present in Washington State, though their numbers are exceptionally low. They are primarily confined to remote, mountainous regions, making sightings rare. The species faces significant conservation challenges across the state.
Grizzly Bear Presence in Washington
Grizzly bears remain a part of Washington’s wild ecosystems, though their populations are small and isolated. The state hosts two federally designated recovery areas: the North Cascades Ecosystem and the Selkirk Mountains. These populations are considered remnant groups of a once more widespread distribution.
In the North Cascades Ecosystem, the grizzly bear population is particularly fragile, with current estimates suggesting fewer than ten individuals. This makes them one of the most at-risk bear populations in the United States. The last confirmed sighting in the U.S. portion of the North Cascades occurred in 1996, highlighting their extreme rarity.
Further east, in the Selkirk Mountains of northeastern Washington, a slightly larger population exists. This transboundary group, which also extends into northern Idaho and British Columbia, is estimated to contain 50 to 70 grizzlies across its broader range. Approximately a dozen of these bears are thought to reside within Washington’s borders. All grizzly bears in the lower 48 states, including those in Washington, are federally protected as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, established in 1975.
Historical Range and Decline
Grizzly bears once roamed extensively across Washington State, inhabiting much of its diverse landscapes, including the Cascade Range. This widespread distribution persisted for thousands of years. However, their numbers began a dramatic decline with the arrival of European settlers.
The primary drivers of this decline were direct killing, including extensive hunting, trapping, and predator control efforts. Settlers often viewed grizzlies as threats to livestock and human safety, leading to efforts to eradicate them. Habitat loss and fragmentation, resulting from logging, agricultural expansion, and urbanization, further compounded the pressures on grizzly populations. The last legal kill in Washington occurred in 1967.
Designated Recovery Zones
To facilitate the recovery of these imperiled populations, specific geographic areas in Washington have been designated as grizzly bear recovery zones. The North Cascades Ecosystem (NCE) is one such area, recognized as one of six recovery zones in the contiguous United States. This vast ecosystem, spanning approximately 9,800 square miles within the U.S. and extending into British Columbia, offers extensive wildlands with suitable grizzly habitat. A substantial portion of the U.S. area is protected as national park land or designated wilderness, providing undisturbed refuge. Biologists estimate that the North Cascades could eventually support a population of at least 200 grizzly bears.
The other key recovery zone in Washington is the Selkirk Mountains, located in the state’s northeastern corner. This area encompasses portions of the Colville National Forest and the Salmo-Priest Wilderness. The Selkirk population is transboundary, shared with northern Idaho and British Columbia, making international cooperation important for its management.
Conservation and Future Outlook
Conservation efforts for Washington’s grizzly bears involve a collaborative approach among federal agencies like the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, tribal nations, and conservation organizations. These groups focus on protecting existing bears, enhancing habitat, and preparing for future population growth.
A significant recent development is the active restoration plan for the North Cascades Ecosystem, announced in April 2024. This plan involves translocating three to seven grizzly bears annually from other healthy populations in the Rocky Mountains or interior British Columbia. The goal is to establish an initial population of 25 bears over five to ten years, with a long-term aim of reaching 200 individuals within 60 to 100 years. To provide management flexibility, these translocated bears will be designated as a “nonessential experimental population” under Section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act.
Challenges to recovery include the low numbers of existing bears, their slow reproductive rate, and the ongoing need to address public concerns and ensure adequate funding for these long-term initiatives.