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Traditional Blackfeet Indians believed the grizzly bear to be our closest animal relative. The great bear — known as Old Grandfather, Old Honey Paws, or Crooked Tail — wasn’t feared or considered a threat; in fact, grizzlies were revered as healers and were the most esteemed of all animals. Boasting tremendous size and physical strength, this solitary bear had few enemies. Yet today, grizzlies occupy less than 2 percent of their original range, and humans are responsible.
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT PROFILE
PROTECTION STATUS: Threatened; Yellowstone population delisted
YEAR PLACED ON LIST: 1975
CRITICAL HABITAT: None
RECOVERY PLAN: Approved 1982, revised 1993
RANGE: Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington, possibly southern Colorado, and western Canada
THREATS: Federal predator control, pine bark beetle infestations, global warming, invasive lake trout, and habitat degradation
POPULATION TREND: Between 1850 and 1970, grizzlies were eliminated from 98 percent of their original range. Populations plummeted from a high of 50,000 to between 800 and 1,200 today.
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SAVING THE GRIZZLY BEAR
In the early 20th century, grizzlies were celebrities at national parks and in popular culture. Hunters urged their conservation. But despite the grizzly’s appeal, federal predator control killed hundreds of bears and eliminated them from much of their remaining habitat. The Center is now working to return the grizzly to its rightful place throughout its historic range.
One of the first acts of the Bush administration in 2001 was to cancel a plan to reintroduce grizzles in Idaho. Then in April 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the Yellowstone population from the endangered species list.
The Center advocates for an expansive and realistic recovery strategy for grizzly bears. We submitted comments pointing out the scientific inadequacy of the Yellowstone grizzly bear delisting proposal. After the agency removed protections for the 500 to 600 genetically isolated bears there, we filed suit with six other conservation organizations to restore Yellowstone grizzlies to the endangered species list — a case that may take years of motions, rulings, and appeals.
We’ve also requested a revision of the outdated grizzly bear recovery plan. We’re seeking expanded protections for grizzlies, designation of new recovery areas, and uplisting of still-protected populations to endangered status.
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Contact: Michael Robinson
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