Does the United States Have More Grizzly Bears Than Canada?
There are a lot of people who are enamored by grizzly bears; however, they can also be dangerous. That is why people need to know where grizzly bears and what to do if they come across a grizzly bear. In general, grizzly bears like to live in the woods, and they prefer cooler weather. Even though there are grizzly bears in the United States, there are more grizzly bears in Canada. While it can be difficult to track the total population of grizzly bears, it has been estimated that there are 21,000 grizzly bears living in Canada, and about 1,200 grizzly bears living in the lower 48 United States. Therefore, Canada has more grizzly bears than the United States.
Which States in the USA Have the Most Grizzly Bears?
Because grizzly bears tend to like colder weather, they tend to hang out in the northern 48 states where there are more trees and forests to hide. Some of the states that have a lot of grizzly bears include Idaho, Wyoming, Washington, and Montana. In general, grizzly bears like to live in pockets and families. Therefore, if there is one grizzly bear present, there is a good chance that there are more grizzly bears nearby. In addition, there are a lot of grizzly bears that live in Alaska. This is a rural state with cold weather and a lot of trees, so the environment is conducive to the grizzly bears that live there.
Are Grizzly Bears Considered an Endangered Species?
Even though grizzly bears are not considered to be endangered, they are considered to be threatened. That means that they are given a special protected status by the US government. In addition, there are a few recovery areas that are focused on rebuilding the grizzly bear population, which has dwindled during the past few hundred years. Some of the locations where grizzly bears have a recovery ecosystem set up include Yellowstone National Park, the Northern Continental Divide, the Cabinet Yaak Ecosystem, the Bitterroot, and the North Cascades. These are locations where grizzly bears are protected, but grizzly bears are not given the same level of protection in Alaska, as the population is thriving up there.
What Should You Do if You See a Grizzly Bear?
If you spot grizzly bears in the wild, you need to remain very still. You might want to wave your arms slowly to let the bear know that you are human. It might stand on its hind legs to get a better look at you, but grizzly bears are not naturally aggressive. Try not to make direct eye contact with the bear. Then, back away from the bear slowly. Do not try to run away, as the bear might decide that you are prey and try to chase you down. You might also want to reach out to the local authorities to let them know that you have seen a bear nearby.