Wild grizzly bears are no longer found in California, extirpated from the state by the 1920s. Despite their absence, the grizzly bear remains a powerful symbol of California, featured prominently on its state flag and seal. This reflects their historical presence and influence on the region’s natural and cultural landscape.
The California Grizzly’s Past
Before European settlement, California was home to an estimated 10,000 grizzly bears. The subspecies Ursus arctos californicus roamed across nearly the entire state, inhabiting diverse environments. They influenced ecosystems as apex predators, playing a role in seed dispersal and soil aeration.
Early European explorers documented encounters with these animals. The bears were a significant part of California’s natural heritage, inspiring the 1846 “Bear Flag Revolt” and the state flag’s design. While often perceived as fierce carnivores, recent research suggests the California grizzly’s diet was largely herbivorous for millennia, though they did consume small and large mammals, fish, and carrion.
Reasons for Disappearance
The California grizzly bear rapidly declined in less than 75 years following the 1849 Gold Rush. The primary cause of their disappearance was intensive hunting, fueled by fear, sport, and the protection of livestock. Settlers viewed the large bears as a threat to their expanding agricultural interests and personal safety, leading to widespread eradication efforts.
Habitat loss also contributed to their demise, as human settlements and agricultural lands encroached upon the bears’ traditional territories. This expansion led to increased human-wildlife conflict, with bears sometimes preying on cattle, which further incentivized their removal. The practice of capturing bears for public spectacles, such as bull-and-bear fights, also played a role in their persecution. The last confirmed wild California grizzly bear was shot in Tulare County in 1922. The last reported sighting occurred in Sequoia National Park in 1924, marking their extirpation.
Current Status and Range
Grizzly bears are no longer present in the wild in California. However, populations still thrive in other parts of North America. Alaska boasts the largest population, with approximately 30,000 individuals, while Canada is home to an estimated 16,000 to 29,000 grizzlies across its western provinces and territories.
In the contiguous United States, grizzly bears are primarily found in isolated ecosystems within Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, and Washington. These populations, totaling around 2,000 bears, are concentrated in areas such as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are protected as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, a status that prohibits harming or killing them except in cases of self-defense.
Reintroduction Discussions
The potential reintroduction of grizzly bears to California is a topic of ongoing discussion and study. Recent feasibility studies suggest that California could once again support a grizzly population, with estimates ranging from 1,000 to 1,700 bears in suitable habitats like the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains. Proponents highlight the ecological benefits, such as restoring natural processes like seed dispersal and nutrient cycling.
However, the reintroduction of grizzlies presents challenges, including securing public acceptance and addressing concerns about human-wildlife coexistence, particularly regarding livestock and black bear populations. While a 2014 petition to reintroduce grizzly bears was rejected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, new studies continue to explore the biological and social dimensions. The decision to bring grizzlies back to California rests on a collaborative effort involving residents, policymakers, and conservationists.