Why recover grizzly bears in the North Cascades?
The Endangered Species Act requires recovery of threatened or endangered plants and animals. Grizzly bears were listed as a threatened species in 1975. A national grizzly bear recovery plan was prepared in 1982. It identified four ecosystems that had grizzly bears and sufficient habitat to support a viable bear population and two that needed to be evaluated. The North Cascades was one of those two. Between 1986 and 1991 biologists evaluated the habitat quantity and quality and the status of grizzly bears in the North Cascades. Their report and an independent evaluation of the information concluded that bears were present and that the quality and quantity of habitat in the North Cascades could support a viable grizzly bear population. Based on that information, the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made the decision to designate the North Cascades as a grizzly bear recovery area. Washington also contains another grizzly bear recovery area, the Sel
Source: Frequently Asked QuestionsThe Endangered Species Act requires recovery of threatened or endangered plants and animals. Grizzly bears were listed as a threatened species in 1975. A national grizzly bear recovery plan was prepared in 1982. It identified four ecosystems that had grizzly bears and sufficient habitat to support a viable bear population and two that needed to be evaluated. The North Cascades was one of those two.
