Check out this current Feasibility Study for the Reintroduction of Grizzies to California

[Harlen]

Our biologist buddy, and Sierra traveler, Carleton just shared this Study with us. I placed it here in the Campfire, instead of Sierra Natural History section because it includes the whole State of California, and farther. Of the three main areas considered for Grizzly Bear re-introduction, the Western Sierra is the largest. As Carleton wrote to us, this Feasibility is just a first step, and it carries no sort of authorization with it. We think this is still, unfortunately, a dubious proposition, and a long way off, if ever. Carleton's line on it was that he didn't think we deserved Grizzly Bears yet.

Be that as it may, linked below is the fascinating Study. In it you will find informative maps of the former and current range of the species, both in Cal., and worldwide. Historic, and evolutionary accounts of the Bears are also provided, and some excellent documentation of their behavior.
Some interesting points are made; one promising one is the fact that Grizzlies went extinct in California, and throughout much of their former western range, not so much because of habitat loss, but to due to the actions of a relatively few, very active killers of Grizzlies. This implies that suitable habitat, able to support self-sustaining populations of the bears does still exist in the State, and elsewhere in the West. We currently live with a California population of about 65,000 Black Bears, and the Grizzly Bear population numbers were probably never more than 10,000.
We currently live happily, though cautiously, with the likelihood of meeting Mountain Lions in our backyard; I would welcome some Grizzlies.
What do you think?

https://docs.calgrizzly.org/docs/CGA-Fe ... y-2025.pdf

[c9h13no3]

he didn't think we deserved Grizzly Bears yet.

I'm with you there.

We currently live happily, though cautiously, with the likelihood of meeting Mountain Lions in our backyard; I would welcome some Grizzlies.
What do you think?

My question is what problem does it solve? Maybe an overpopulation of JMT hikers. I assume dumping a predator into the eco system would be designed to control deer or salmon or pine beetles or whatever grizzlies eat. The study mentions Elk and deer and salmon, but in classic ivory tower fashion is just kinda like "Things will change, it will be interesting!"

[Harlen]

You ask a good question Sam. A few points come to mind. First, it is harder to predict, and quantify the ecological results of Grizzly Bear reintroduction. They are complex omnivores (though often catagorizied as "carnivores"), whose diverse diet is generally guaged to consist of 80% vegetable matter. Berries for Bears, Deer for Mountain Lions and Wolves. The reintroduction of Gray Wolves to the Rockies was certain to have a large effect on Deer and Elk populations, and a due to that, a beneficial effect on the ecosystem-- limiting over-grazing by herbivores, etc. Chapter 5 details the thoughts on ecological results of Grizzlies. I am interested in potential effects of the Bears consumption of masses of berries. The subsequent seed dispersal has the potential to alter vegetation patterns in a way which could benefit many other species. We've all remarked on the amazing, brilliant red Black Bear scat in the Sierra, composed of hundreds of Bitter Cherry seeds. We noticed the same sort of thing in the Canadian Rockies from Grizzlies consuming Buffalo Berries, and in Alaska it is Soapberries. Yes, Black Bears are already doing it too, but I reckon the Grizzlies would increase the seed dispersal of many species farther and wider into more open areas. There's one possible ecological benefit.

A commonly held generalization in the field of Conservation and Restoration Ecology (my former work), is that it is inadvisable to introduce exotic species (plants, animals, fungi...) into native ecosystems, and conversely, it is generally advisable to reintroduce native species into habitat they once inhabited. Again, see Chapter 5 to see more detail.

Sam, what you stated about the "Ivory Tower" mentality sometimes found among agencies that believe they have some special expertise behind them, in my mind, is less applicable to Conservation work. In this case, it is more a matter of tearing down that "tower" and accepting that we have done wrong by altering the ecosytems around us, and trying to put things right-- meaning, the way it was before we took it over, and used our bright ideas on it. I believe that may be behind our friend Carleton's statement that we do not yet "deserve Grizzly Bears." We would have to be able to reason outside our usual, human-centered thoughts, and accept the idea that the land could use its Grizzly Bears back, and that the Grizzlies would enjoy being back in their habitat... and that they belong there.

We also would have to get past the visceral reaction we have to being killed by predator species, and accept that it is just another way we might die, along with falling off cliffs, drowning in spring rivers, being stung by yellow-jackets and bees... and one of the most common-- being killed in automobiles.

[tomba]

Map of predicted grizzly bear use: https://caltopo.com/m/RFJHC0G
Pink outline: protected area boundary
Blue: high bear use
Red: low bear use
Zoom out to read more information at the bottom.
Adjust transparency of the map sheet using the slider on the right.