When white men first set foot on the North American continent, Grizzly Bears roamed most of the land to the west of the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River, and north from Mexico to the northern tip of Alaska. Gradually, they were pushed back into more remote areas due to hunting and the disappearance of other prey species. Today, it is estimated there are roughly 55,000 Grizzly Bears in North America, 25,000 -30,000 of which are in Alaska, and an equal number in Canada. There are approximately 1500 in Montana, a few others in Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming. There is interest in returning Grizzlies to Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona but that awaits future developments and a federal government commitment to engage in transplants.
As far as humans are concerned, Grizzlies are non-aggressive but will attack if startled, particularly if encountered with cubs. The best concentration of Grizzlies for those who want to see them is in Yellowstone as well as in Grand Teton National Park. Grizzlies can also be spotted along the northern border of the U.S. with Canada in the area in and west of Glacier National Park in Montana.
Grizzly bears are one element of a natural ecosystem. Bears are considered omnivores in that they feed not only on other animals (mostly ungulates killed by wolves and other carnivores) but also by digging roots and eating berries, bark, and nuts. These ecosystems in which they may be found are essentially gone from the Great Plains but still exist, at least in rudimentary form, in the Rocky Mountains of the western part of the United States – and in the north Cascades of Washington. In some areas, such as in Grand Teton National Park where you may see a female Grizzly walking along a road with her cubs, some Grizzlies have fairly well accommodated to the presence of humans; in most other areas, Grizzlies stay away from human-occupied areas and are difficult to see or find. They are not aggressive – unless they sense a danger to their cubs – of if they are startled at a turn in the trail. If coming upon a Grizzly, don’t run. Avert your eyes and back off.
The Grizzly Bear is listed on the Endangered Species List as a threatened species and is protected by law (although a person can self-defend if under attack). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering restoring Grizzly populations to the Cascade Range in northern Washington and to the Bitterroot-Selway region in western Montana and northern Idaho. Opposition to this program has come from elk-hunting interests and from at least one native-American tribe. Those who want to see natural ecosystems restored and flourishing hope to see the Grizzly returned and protected in remote areas where it is now absent.