Can Washington Bear Some Grizzlies?

ENVIRONMENT

Use our resources to learn more about grizzlies and species range.

Teachers, scroll down for a short list of key resources in our “Teachers’ Toolkit.”

Discussion Ideas

Grizzly bears are “federally protected.” What does this mean?
- Federally protected species have “recovery plans” to help boost their populations. This usually means land-use restrictions (such as bans on agricultural development or construction) to protect the species’ habitat and limits on hunting to encourage population growth.

Does this mean grizzly bears are endangered?
- Sort of.
  - No: Grizzly bears generally have a healthy population and are among the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s “least threatened” species in North America.
  - Yes: Grizzly bears are covered by the Endangered Species Act in the United States. Grizzlies are considered a “threatened species” in parts of the U.S. and Canada. This is because although grizzlies have a generally healthy population, they are threatened in specific areas of their range.

What is a “species range”? Take a look through our encyclopedic entry for some help.
- A species range is the area where a particular species can be found during its lifetime. Species range includes areas where individuals or communities may migrate or hibernate.

How has the grizzly bear’s species range changed over the centuries? These maps of the current species range and historic species range might help.
- The grizzly’s range has shrunk dramatically. The bears used to inhabit areas as far south as central Mexico and as far east as the U.S. states of Arkansas and Missouri. Today, they are extinct in Mexico and threatened in the lower 48 states.

Where has the grizzly bear’s species range remained intact?
- The grizzly population in northwestern North America has remained healthy. In fact, in parts of Western Canada and the U.S. state of Alaska, grizzly populations are large enough to allow hunting.

The federal government is considering re-introducing grizzly bears to the Cascade Mountains of Washington. Why is the federal government making this decision instead of Washington state or municipal authorities?
- The re-introduction is being considered in North Cascades National Park. As a national park (not a state or local park), North Cascades is a federal property. Having said that, the National Park Service has said it would hold public hearings and consider state and local concerns before implementing any plan for re-introduction.

Who supports re-introducing the bears to the Cascade range?
- According to Nat Geo News:
  - conservation and environmental organizations
  - many wildlife biologists and
  - many recreationists have voiced support for at least a study to consider re-introducing grizzlies to the North Cascades. (Recreationists are people who regularly enjoy the outdoors—as campers, photographers, hikers, backpackers . . .)

Who opposes the re-introduction?
- According to Nat Geo News, “Ranchers, some already coping with the return of federally protected wolves to eastern Washington, worry that the arrival of another endangered predator will mean more dead livestock and land-use restrictions in bear territory.”
- A French shepherd, confronted with the return of wolves to the Alps, had an even better quote: “If you ask me, when they talk about ‘environmentalism’ today, it’s meant for city people. You go talk about the bear, the wolf, about nature that’s a bit wild, and you send them all off dreaming. . . Come ask us, the shepherds, about putting sharks in the Mediterranean. You’ll get 99 percent in favor. I don’t go swimming, I don’t give a damn!”

TEACHERS’ TOOLKIT

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Grizzly Bear Recovery

National Geographic Education Blog