Would California ever Reintroduce the Grizzly Bear?

March 26, 2020

Question: Is CDFW in favor of, or opposed to, reintroducing grizzly bears to the California Wilderness areas of the Sierras, or the coastal redwoods of Humboldt and Del Norte counties? It would be a shame not to reintroduce our state animal to its native environment. (Scott)

Answer: While we find it interesting, we are not entertaining the reintroduction of grizzly bears to the state. The idea has been a nonstarter for CDFW. The department is decidedly pro-science and pro-study, which would be required before even suggesting an action like this. But this kind of study is not a priority for CDFW. It’s unlikely that CDFW would take on the burden and extra cost of engaging in a study for the following reasons:

1.  Grizzly bears traditionally would roam oak woodlands and even beaches, sometimes eating whale carcasses. We have no reason to assume that grizzlies would stay within some arbitrary boundary we set in a remote area of the Sierra or Coastal Redwoods, or that they wouldn’t wander from remote areas into less remote ones near people and livestock.

2.  Salmon and other wildlife that grizzly bears feasted on 150 to 200 years ago are not as abundant as they used to be. We have 40 million people in this state. Reintroducing grizzly bears would suggest bringing them into places where people are now.

Reintroducing grizzly bears potentially into places where people live, recreate and raise livestock would likely prove counterproductive as it would necessitate further management of human/wildlife conflicts. We already struggle enough as it is to manage human and livestock conflicts with the animal species that are here, such as black bears, wolves, coyotes and mountain lions.