The Grizzly bear is a large brown bear subspecies found in North America. In the US, they are found only in a few states. Do you know what states have grizzly bears in the United States? Let’s find out.
What states have grizzly bears in the US?
Only five states in the US have Grizzly bears in the wilderness. These five states are –
- Alaska
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Washington
- Idaho
Alaska
Alaska is the land of brown bears, the bear country. The largest state of the US is home to about 30,000 Grizzly bears. Along with Grizzly bears, other subspecies of brown bears (like Kodiak bears) and Polar bears are also found in Alaska.
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Some of the best places to see Grizzly bears in Alaska are Katmai National Park, Lake Clark National Park, and Denali National Park.
Montana
After Alaska, Montana is the state with the highest brown bear population. There are estimated 1,800 to 2,000 Grizzly bears in Montana, mostly in Northwest Montana and in the Greater Yellowstone area.
Wyoming
The state of Wyoming is home to 600-1,000 Grizzlies. These grizzlies are mostly seen in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem which includes two National Parks – Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. Very rarely Grizzly bears are spotted south of the Teton range in the Wyoming range.
Washington
In Washington, Grizzly bears live in the Selkirk Mountains and in some areas near the Columbia River in the Northeast parts of the state. In total there are about 500 Grizzly bears in Washington. The authorities are trying to reintroduce Grizzly bears in North Cascades National Park.
Idaho
There is a small population of Brown bears in Idaho, possibly up to 100. Selkirk Mountains of Idaho have 35-40 bears. Nearly 40 bears live near the Montana border in Northern Idaho. There may be a few Grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park in Idaho.
Grizzly bear population by state
| Alaska | around 30,000 |
| Montana | 1,800 – 2,000 |
| Wyoming | 600 – 1,000 |
| Washington | around 500 |
| Idaho | around 100 |
Basic facts about Grizzly bears
| Countries | United States and Canada |
| Scientific name | Ursus arctos horribilis |
| Weight | 400-800 lbs (males), 290-400 lbs (females) |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable |
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