The Northern Rocky Mountains are one of the few places in the lower 48 states that are home to both black bears and grizzly bears. Over 200 years ago there were more than 100,000 grizzly bears between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean. Now there are less than 1,000 grizzly bears left in the United States, and they are only located in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, the Cabinet-Yaak Mountains and the Selkirk Mountains. The grizzly bear’s habitat in the continental U.S. has been reduced to less than two percent of its original range, which resulted in the bear’s protection under the Endangered Species Act in 1975. Much of its remaining habitat is threatened with further fragmentation by roads and other development.

What do grizzly bears look like?

Blond to black coloring, weighing between 400-800 lbs, 6-7 feet tall when standing, shoulder hump helps to distinguish them from a black bear, ears are round and small, and front claws are 2-4 inches long.

What do grizzly bears eat?

Bears are omnivores, which means they eat both meat and plants. Their diet usually includes insects, rodents, fish, elk, moose, bison, plants, berries and roots.

What type of habitat do grizzly bears need?

Grizzly bears need large areas of wildlands to survive. Grizzly bears need home ranges approximately the size of 900 square miles and lands with little to no development.