Grizzly bears are a powerful symbol of wilderness across North America. These large mammals, a subspecies of brown bear, are recognized by their distinctive shoulder hump and a slightly dished profile to their face. Adult males typically weigh between 300 and 800 pounds, while females range from 200 to 450 pounds. As omnivores, their diet adapts seasonally, encompassing insects, berries, nuts, roots, carrion, and fish. Grizzly bears are highly adaptable, flourishing in diverse habitats such as high mountain forests, subalpine meadows, tundra, and grasslands. Historically, their range stretched across the western United States, from the Pacific Ocean to the Mississippi River, extending into Canada and Mexico.
States Where Grizzlies Live
Today, established grizzly bear populations in the United States are primarily found in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming. Alaska holds the largest population, estimated at around 30,000 bears, representing 98% of the brown bears in the U.S. These bears are widespread throughout Alaska’s varied landscapes.
In the contiguous lower 48 states, grizzly bears exist in several isolated populations, predominantly within the Northern Rocky Mountains. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, spanning parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, supports approximately 730 to 1,000 bears.
Another significant population resides in Montana’s Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, home to about 1,000 to 1,092 bears. Smaller populations are present in other regions, including the Selkirk Ecosystem in northern Idaho and northeastern Washington, with an estimated 70 to 80 bears. The Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem in northwestern Montana and northern Idaho hosts roughly 60 bears. The North Cascades Ecosystem in northern Washington contains a small population, estimated to be fewer than 20 bears. These populations are isolated, lacking contiguous connections across their fragmented habitats.
Understanding Their Restricted Range
The current limited distribution of grizzly bears in the U.S. is a direct consequence of historical human activities. Prior to 1800, an estimated 50,000 grizzly bears roamed across 18 western states. By the 1930s, their range in the lower 48 states had been reduced to just 2% of its original size.
This decline was driven by westward expansion and human settlement during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Overhunting, poisoning campaigns, and habitat destruction were primary factors. The conversion of land for agriculture, resource extraction activities like logging, mining, and oil and gas drilling, along with human infrastructure development, fragmented their once-vast habitats. Roads increased human access into bear territories, leading to higher rates of human-caused mortality and displacing bears from essential areas. These pressures impacted the grizzly bear’s ability to thrive across its former range.
Grizzly Bear Protection
Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are protected under federal law, listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This status was enacted in 1975 when their population had plummeted to an estimated 700 to 800 bears, occupying less than 2% of their historical range. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) manages their recovery efforts.
This protection prohibits harming, harassing, or killing grizzly bears, except in cases of self-defense, and regulates their import, export, and sale. Recovery plans have identified six ecosystems for focused management to aid population growth. Although some populations, such as those in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems, have met their recovery goals, the FWS has maintained the threatened status for all grizzly bears in the lower 48 states. Ongoing conservation efforts include active restoration projects, such as translocating bears to help establish new populations in areas like the North Cascades.