Grizzly bear

On January 17, 2024, the US Fish and Wildlife Service initiated a new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) determining the viability of returning grizzly bears—listed as Threatened in the contiguous United States under the Endangered Species Act since 1975—to the Bitterroot Recovery Zone.

The Bitterroot ecosystem is one of the six identified grizzly bear recovery zones in the lower 48 States. Although individual grizzly bears have been documented in the Bitterroot Ecosystem, no established population — defined as having two or more breeding females or one female with two consecutive litters — currently exists in this recovery zone.

The Great Burn ecosystem serves as a key corridor for repopulating the Bitterroot Recovery Zone. Bears traveling from the North Continental Divide Ecosystem, which has the largest population of grizzly’s in the lower 48, pass through the Great Burn to the Bitterroot Ecosystem (see map below). Scientists estimate that this ecosystem has the potential to support a population of hundreds of bears.

Stay Informed

If you would like more information please visit the Grizzly Bear Recovery Program webpage.