The California grizzly bear, Ursus arctos californicus, once dominated the diverse landscapes of the Golden State. This subspecies of brown bear played a significant role in California’s ecosystems for thousands of years. Its presence shaped the environment and influenced the lives of early inhabitants. The story of the California grizzly bear, a creature of immense strength and adaptability, is deeply woven into the state’s natural and cultural history.
The Definitive Answer
The California grizzly bear is extinct. The last confirmed sighting occurred in 1924, when a lone bear was observed in Sequoia National Park. The last known physical specimen was shot and killed in Tulare County in August 1922. Less than 75 years after the 1848 California Gold Rush, nearly every grizzly bear in the state had been hunted down and killed.
A Profile of the California Grizzly
The California grizzly bear, also known as the California brown bear or California golden bear, was a subspecies of the brown bear, Ursus arctos. These bears were characterized by their muscular build, a distinct hump on their shoulders, and fur that ranged from golden-brown to nearly black, often with silver-tipped hairs. Adult males typically weighed between 660 to 1,100 pounds, making them one of the largest land carnivores in California.
Before European settlement in the mid-1700s, an estimated 10,000 grizzly bears inhabited what is now California. Their range covered almost the entire state, from redwood forests to the edge of the Mojave Desert. These bears thrived in diverse habitats, including chaparral, oak woodlands, hardwood forests, meadows, and coastal areas.
The diet of the California grizzly was highly varied, reflecting their omnivorous nature. They consumed a wide array of plant matter, such as grasses, seeds, berries, acorns, and roots. Their diet also included animal sources like elk, deer, salmon, steelhead, and carrion. Scientific studies indicate their diet was predominantly vegetarian. However, with the introduction of European livestock, they increasingly incorporated cattle into their diet, which contributed to conflicts with humans.
The Path to Extinction
The rapid decline of the California grizzly bear population was largely driven by human activities following the Gold Rush of 1848. The influx of settlers led to widespread hunting and trapping of the bears. Bears were pursued for their fur and meat, targeted for sport, and some counties even offered bounties for their killing.
Habitat loss played a significant role as agricultural expansion and human settlements encroached upon the bears’ territories. The conversion of vast grasslands and forests into farms and towns fragmented their natural habitats, isolating populations and limiting their access to food and mates. This forced grizzlies into smaller, more confined areas, increasing their encounters with humans.
Direct conflict with humans protecting livestock further exacerbated the situation. As grizzlies preyed on cattle, they became viewed as a threat to livelihoods, leading to organized efforts to eliminate them through shooting and poisoning. The widespread use of repeating rifles, introduced around 1848, accelerated the rate of killing. These combined pressures led to a swift reduction in their numbers throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Grizzlies Today and the California Legacy
While California no longer has wild grizzly bears, the state is home to a robust population of American black bears, Ursus americanus. These black bears are a distinct species and generally smaller than grizzlies. They fill a similar ecological niche in the absence of the larger brown bears.
The California grizzly bear maintains a powerful legacy as a symbol of the state. It is prominently featured on the California state flag and the state seal. The bear on the modern flag was modeled after “Monarch,” a real California grizzly bear kept in captivity in San Francisco until his death in 1911. This iconic imagery symbolizes strength and courage.
The grizzly’s symbolic presence on the state flag, adopted in 1911, and its designation as the official state animal in 1953, ensures its memory persists. California is unique in having an extinct animal as a central figure on its state flag. The cultural significance of the California grizzly bear reflects its historical connection to the land and its people, even a century after its disappearance from the wild.