Grizzly Bears Potentially Returning to This National Park

For many years, North Cascades National Park and the surrounding Washington wilderness was home to countless grizzly bears. Now, after disappearing from the area nearly three decades ago, the bruins are set to be reintroduced to the region. 

The National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued their final environmental impact statement on whether to restore grizzly bears to the North Cascades ecosystem and proposed two possible ways of returning the bears to their home here. This would likely include designating the group of bears as a “nonessential experimental” population, similar to when wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park in the ’90s. The last grizzly bears in North Cascades were spotted back in 1996. 

It follows a similar move made in Colorado last year to reintroduce gray wolves in state wilderness after years of missing from the region. The North Cascades grizzly bear restoration plan, like Colorado’s gray wolf experiment, has drawn criticism from some locals. 

The National Park Service is expected to announce its final reintroduction plan decision in “the weeks ahead.” But the move is already being celebrated by wildlife and conservation advocates who are delighted to see grizzly bears return to their North Cascades habitat. 

“This is a critical moment in history, with governments, organizations, and individuals working together to welcome grizzlies back after human action removed them from their home,” Snoqualmie Indian Tribal Chairman Robert M. de los Angeles said. 

Wherever in nature you are, bear safety is essential, so always make sure you’re equipped with the proper equipment just in case before hitting the trail.