There were some 50,000 grizzly bears across the western United States c.1800. They were systematically slaughtered over the next 170 years or so until just a few hundred remained by the mid-1970s. They are gone from over 90% of their recent historic range.
There were around 725 grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem for years until a key variable was changed in the population estimation method (Chao2) in the winter of 2020 - 2021. The number of grizzly bears suddenly increased overnight to over 1100 grizzlies. Based on replacing a 30 km distance between bears to a 16 km distance.
The new population estimation method was short-lived. It was replaced with an integrated population model in 2023 which then estimated 965 grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
While federal protections for grizzly bears are still holding they are under unprecedented attacks by monied groups working tirelessly to remove grizzly bears from the Endangered Species List. This will open a season not only the bears but the largely public lands where they live. No more arguing over numbers.
We envision a different path:
The Great Bear Protection Act
Modeled after the 1940 Bald Eagle Protection Act (expanded in 1962 to include gold eagles).
The Great Bear Protection Act simply establishes a grizzly bear as a thinking, feeling being with an innate right to be. Grizzly bears are not trophies. Grizzly bears are not rugs. We’ve had a few representatives listen and saw the Trinity Act introduced in 2024. We continue to work on draft language of the bill that we will then forward to the entire House and Senate. If you would like to help drop us a line.
