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The grizzly bear, the largest bear species in North America, once prowled the forests, riverbanks and coastline of Oregon.
The bear’s historic range included the entire west coast of the United States. They would’ve been a common sight along the streams and rivers of the Oregon Coast, especially during salmon spawning season. (Their smaller cousin, the black bear, is still a resident of the coast and sometimes a potential hazard for hikers, campers and domesticated animals.)
Officially, the grizzly has been extirpated (extinct in a specific area or region) in Oregon since the late 1930s, a victim of habitat destruction and over-hunting. But now there may be some indications that the big bear is poised for a comeback.
Prey animals — particularly moose — on which the bear feeds have been migrating into the northeastern corner of Oregon from Idaho. The arrival of these species, combined with abundant bear-friendly habitat, has some scientists wondering if grizzly bears will reappear as well. But if that happens, it’ll be a case of happenstance.
The grizzly bear population in Idaho is in dispute but probably small. This makes Montana and Washington the next closest known populations of the bear. But that’s a long way for any animal to walk — and there are plenty of human-made hazards in between including large urban centers, highways and farmland.
Although there have been numerous unconfirmed sightings of grizzly bears in Oregon over the years, most are considered misidentification of the black bear. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, grizzly bears are still missing from Oregon.
Related Information: Monster Bear: The Legend of Clubfoot | Endangered Oregon: Return of the Gray Wolf
The grizzly bear, the largest bear species in North America, once prowled the forests, riverbanks and coastline of Oregon.
The bear’s historic range included the entire west coast of the United States. They would’ve been a common sight along the streams and rivers of the Oregon Coast, especially during salmon spawning season. (Their smaller cousin, the black bear, is still a resident of the coast and sometimes a potential hazard for hikers, campers and domesticated animals.)
Officially, the grizzly has been extirpated (extinct in a specific area or region) in Oregon since the late 1930s, a victim of habitat destruction and over-hunting. But now there may be some indications that the big bear is poised for a comeback.
Prey animals — particularly moose — on which the bear feeds have been migrating into the northeastern corner of Oregon from Idaho. The arrival of these species, combined with abundant bear-friendly habitat, has some scientists wondering if grizzly bears will reappear as well. But if that happens, it’ll be a case of happenstance.
The grizzly bear population in Idaho is in dispute but probably small. This makes Montana and Washington the next closest known populations of the bear. But that’s a long way for any animal to walk — and there are plenty of human-made hazards in between including large urban centers, highways and farmland.
Although there have been numerous unconfirmed sightings of grizzly bears in Oregon over the years, most are considered misidentification of the black bear. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, grizzly bears are still missing from Oregon.
Related Information: Monster Bear: The Legend of Clubfoot | Endangered Oregon: Return of the Gray Wolf
