Grizzly Bear- Natalie Ramos

Grizzly Bear

Description and Ecology:

The California Sate animal, the Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), is known to be larger than the black bear and has distinguishable long curved claws and humped shoulders. Their coloring ranges from a light brown to almost black. Males grizzlies can weigh nearly 400-600 pounds and females can weigh 250-350 pounds. Adult grizzlies stand at about 4 feet when on all fours but if standing on their rear legs they can tower at over 8 feet. Because grizzlies have a broad habitat tolerance they have been able to be successful omnivores although they have digestive systems of a carnivore. Grizzlies are easy-going solitary wanderers and will prey and scavenge on almost all available food.

Geographic and Population Changes:

Historically the Grizzly ranged from the mid-west plains to the California Coast and even south into Texas and Mexico. Now the grizzly is found in four ecosystems: The North Cascade of Washington, The Northern Continental Divide, Yaak in Montana and the Selkirks of Idaho and Washington. The Grizzly bear was originally known to be dispersed throughout Western North America rom Central Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. Between 1800 and 1975 grizzly populations dropped from estimates of 50,000 to 1,000. Due to both an increase of unfavorable environmental conditions from westward expansion, fur trapping, mining and farming caused the sharp decline in the population. With the increase of human interaction causing habitat deformation and illegal hunting is the main reason for the decline of the Grizzly bear population. 

Listing Date and Type of Listing:

The Grizzly bear was originally listens as threatened on July 28, 1975. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service the recovery plan for the grizzly was approved January 29, 1982. Protection for the Grizzly bear under the Act for protecting these beautiful creatures is extremely detailed. The possession, transportation, taking, sale and receipt of a grizzly bear or parts thereof will result in a fine up to $50,000 and one year is prison for a criminal conviction and up to $10,000 in civil penalties.

Cause of listing and Main threats to its continued existence:

While bears do kill each other, the natural mortality rate and the causes of natural mortality is not well known. The cause of listing and its continued threat to existence are from human-caused mortality and interactions. Grizzly bear habitat has faced a steady decrease from the initial westward expansion of settlers in North America; at first grizzlies would attempt to avoid contact with humans but now humans lure them in with their waste products from construction, recreational and residential areas that have invaded their habitat. The result of the habitat invasion has allowed these bears to learn to cause damage to property, eat livestock and become a threat to humans. And because of these negative behaviors they have learned it has cause illegal shootings, contributing to the cause of the decline in grizzly population. Other human induced complications to grizzlies include: direct human confrontation with hikers, backpackers, hunters ect; careless livestock upkeep; protection of livestock; the use of grizzly habitat for economic value/gain; and lawful and illegal hunting.

Recovery Plan:

The recovery plan put in place by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service is to outline the steps needed to take place to facilitate recovery for this species. The estimated cost for this recovery plan is $ 26,000,000. Ultimately the goal is to limit the human-grizzly interaction because we are the main reason for them to be threatened. The specific objectives (U.S. Fish and Wildlife) of this plan are

1.     Identify grizzly bear population goals that represent species recovery in measurable and quantifiable terms for the ecosystems where the grizzly bear has a suitable habitat.

2.     Provide the population monitoring approach that will allow determination of recovery levels

3.     Identify population and habitat limiting factors that account for current populations existing at levels requiring threatening status under the Act.

4.     Identify management measures needed to remove population and habitat limiting factors so that populations will increase and sustain themselves at levels identified as the recovery goals.

5.     Establish recovered populations in each of the ecosystems where habitat is available to sustain grizzly bear population.

What you can do:

You can directly help save a species. When enjoying the outdoors throw away your waste in a secure area so that bears do not have access to it and encourage others to do the same. Take action by reaching out to government leaders limiting habitat for these amazing creatures. Speak up for wildlife and become an advocate for these species that cannot do so. Donate so that more efforts can be made to protect the grizzlies and expand their habitat. Taking the initiative and influencing others can create a trend in saving and protecting our state animal. Actions are contagious and let your actions be proof!

Other resources:

https://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/930910.pdf (all facts)

pictures:

https://defenders.org/grizzly-bear/how-you-can-help

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/grizzly_bear/

http://meridianintl.co/us-grizzly-bear-population-map.html

https://redoubtreporter.wordpress.com/2009/12/23/costly-count-%E2%80%94-brown-bear-census-worth-the-trouble/

https://inhabitat.com/the-biomimicry-manual-what-can-we-learn-about-resilience-weight-loss-and-kidney-disease-from-the-grizzly-bear/bear-cubs/