Success: Park Service Plans to Relocate Grizzly Bears to North Cascades

Target: Michael T. Reynolds, Acting Director, National Park Service

Goal: Support proposal to reintroduce grizzly bears to North Cascades National Park.

The National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that they have created a proposal to reintroduce grizzly bears to North Cascades National Park in Washington. The plan calls for increasing the grizzly population to at least 200 bears, and the agencies are currently deciding whether to move the bears from northwestern Montana or south-central British Columbia. They will make the final decision about whether to move forward with the plan and where to move the bears from later this year.

Historically, the grizzly bear population stretched all the way from Alaska to Mexico, and there were over 50,000 bears in the western United States. But human population growth and habitat decimation lowered these numbers exponentially, and there are now approximately 1,500 to 1,800 bears in the area. This population decimation is especially drastic in Washington – there are estimated to be fewer than 10 bears in the North Cascades. The last bear was seen in the wild in 2010, and before that, no bears were seen since 1996. With over 9,500 square miles of wild land, the North Cascades is the right spot for a new grizzly bear population.

Many animal advocates have voiced their desire to have grizzly bears back in Washington, including members of the ForceChange community who signed petitions like this one. Under the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s new plan, this dream could become a reality. Sign this petition to show your support for the new grizzly bear relocation plan.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Director Reynolds,

Thank you for creating a comprehensive proposal to reintroduce grizzly bears to North Cascades National Park. The North Cascades is one of the bears’ native territories, but human population growth and habitat decimation have driven grizzlies out of the area. By moving new bears into the area, you’ll be able to help revitalize the grizzly population in North Cascades National Park.

North Cascades National Park has over 9,500 square miles of land, making it the right place to start a new population of grizzly bears. Thank you for putting together a plan to bring grizzly bears back to the North Cascades. I look forward to seeing the grizzly population grow in Washington.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Sandy Brown Jensen