A summary of grizzly bear distribution in the lower-48 US states in 2024
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Abstract
Understanding the distribution of grizzly bear populations in the lower-48 states, is important for their conservation and management, and for public safety. Previously, our research teams working in grizzly bear ecosystems in the lower-48 states used varying methods to estimate distribution of grizzly bear populations. In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) and Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE), zonal analysis and ordinary kriging were applied to an array of grid cells with or without verified presence of grizzly bears, however the parameters of the methods varied between the two ecosystems. In the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem (CYE) and the Selkirk Ecosystem (SE), population distribution was mapped as the Recovery Zone plus “bears outside of Recovery Zone” areas (Allen 2011). Additionally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed a method for estimating areas where grizzly bears “may be present” to help agencies or prospective applicants evaluate whether or not proposed actions may affect grizzly bears (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2020). Since the mid 2010s, cooperating agencies have collaborated in documenting and maintaining a database of verified outlier observations that occur between or well outside of grizzly bear Recovery Zones and these data inform the “may be present” mapping.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Organization Series |
| Title | A summary of grizzly bear distribution in the lower-48 US states in 2024 |
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee |
| Contributing office(s) | Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center |
| Description | 7 p. |
| Country | United States |
| Other Geospatial | lower 48 states |