A Symbol of Wilderness

The grizzly bear and other brown bears once roamed the entire North American Continent, from Mexico to the Arctic. They were even once common in the Great Plains region. Because of human expansion and commercialization, they have been forced to rugged mountain areas and undisturbed forests of the west. Today, they are very sparsely populated in the lower forty eight states. Before western exploration, from the late 16^th to 19^th centuries, there were an estimated 50,000 grizzly bears from the Pacific Ocean to the Great Plains. Today, there are only 1,200 to 1,400 in the same place (U.S. FWS). Their habitat has been diminished and replaced with houses and businesses. Conservation of the grizzly bear and its habitat is essential to maintain a healthy ecosystem for all wildlife in the region and to serve as a symbol of human commitment to the environment.

Grizzly bears mean different things to many different people. To some, the grizzly bear is an unwelcome predator. To many others, it is a symbol of American commitment to the environment. There is a common misconception that the grizzly bear is a dangerous predator. This unique brown bear is classified as an omnivore. It actually only gets fifteen percent of its diet from meat (Defenders). In some regions, they feed on small mammals, and in many other others, they feed on salmon and other fish. The rest of their diet consists of insects, berries, roots and grasses. The small mammals that they consume are often times overpopulated, so the grizzly bear helps to reduce their numbers. Also, by digging for roots and harvesting berries, the bear contributes to replenishing fertile soil. Even their large waste deposits serve as a natural fertilizer.

In 1975, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service listed the grizzly bear as a threatened species in the lower 48 states (U.S. FWS). By doing this, the animal and its habitat were mandatorily protected. However, in April of 2007, the Yellowstone population of grizzly bears was removed from the ‘threatened’ species list (U.S. FWS). Yellowstone reached its goal of growing the population of grizzlies to five hundred strong. This release of the species from the list included many precautions to protect the species from extinction. Many aspects will be monitored, such as their main food sources, the amount of hunters allowed in their habitat, and vehicle access to critical grizzly territory (U.S. FWS).

While fifty percent of the lower 48’s grizzly population is in the Greater Yellowstone Area, the other fifty percent is spread widely through other wildlife reserves. North Cascades National Park and the Great Continental Divide wildlife reserve in the north hold much of the remainder. The only real safe haven is in Canada. Canada has a much larger population of grizzly bears throughout their national parks and even more in the sparsely populated northern region. Canada is dedicated to preserving this large predator’s species and habitat.

Five hundred grizzlies is hardly a saved population of bears. Conservation groups and biologists made a public outcry in 2005, when the park was considering releasing the grizzly bear population from the threatened list, to rethink the plan and raise the number of bears necessary (Henton). Their pleas were ignored and the population was removed from the threatened list in 2007. The rest of the United States grizzlies are currently protected, but if they continue to grow, they may be removed prematurely as well.

Maintaining these habitats can be quite the difficult task. Grizzly bears require massive amounts of land to thrive. They usually require about 50 to 100 square kilometers and up to 900 square kilometers in less productive habitats (Columbia). The habitat must be equipped with bear essentials. They need rivers for water and fish. Berry patches, roots and grasses must be densely distributed. The ecosystem has to be crawling with numerous small mammals. If these requirements are not met, the grizzly bear simply requires more area to dwell.

National Parks do their share to conserve the habitat of the grizzly bear, but it may not be enough. The parks simply do what they have to by law. Without public support, this is very limited. Hunters constantly pressure the parks to remove different populations from the threatened list, especially the grizzly bear. Hunting is an incredibly vast industry, that brings with it tourism. The parks can benefit from removing different populations from the list. Also, commercialization pressures parks to yield land to the state. States want to expand economically, and to do this, land is required for businesses. If the populations of grizzlies are no longer on the list, their habitat is no longer protected, and can be sold for commercial profit.

This great symbol of American wilderness needs the public’s help for survival. By helping to conserve the grizzly bear’s habitat, Americans leave a healthy, wild environment for their children and grandchildren to marvel at. They leave the land with one resemblance to what it was before European arrival. The grizzly bear will serve as an example as to the conservation of other large predators. The rest of America’s bear population waits impatiently. The grey wolf, which is also endangered, pays close attention.

The grizzly bear’s habitat is in dire need of protection because it is also the habitat for numerous other animals. The grizzly bear is the only animal that is saving much of the habitat protected for these other animals. Other large predators, birds, mammals and fish all live in harmony. Their only protection is the protection of the largest predator. Once their enemy is removed from the threatened list, their habitat faces grave danger. The grizzly bear’s survival is necessary for the survival of all of America’s great wildlife.

The grizzly’s habitat is also home to thousands of trees. Their protection protects these massive forests from logging and deforestation. By protecting their habitat, commercialization is prohibited in these areas. This reduces roadways, buildings, and pollution. These forests provide oxygen to this side of the globe, which needs to be conserved to sustain life. These areas also serve as some of the little area of unpolluted land left in the United States. The rivers are clear and the air is fresh. America’s forests have dwindled to a few percent of what they once were. Protecting the grizzly bear gives the trees a fighting chance to make a comeback. Although they will never be what they once were, any increase is beneficial, especially to humans.

Americans need to unite to support this just environmental cause. Many organizations of biologists and conservationists already exist, but they are always in need of support. The National Parks Conservation Association, or NPCA, is dedicated to protecting our nation’s parks and wildlife reserves, many of which house the grizzly bear (NPCA). They are calling for supporters through online subscription, donation, or simply attending events. The Defenders of Wildlife is an organization dedicated to the conservation of all species in America. They are responsible for championing the Endangered Species Act, the landmark law that protects imperiled species (Defenders). They sell stuffed animals as gifts to wildlife enthusiasts as gifts, with most of the proceeds going toward the conservation of the type of animal bought. Greenpeace is another program affiliated with wildlife conservation. They are also committed to the protection of forests and environments from pollution and deforestation (Greenpeace). They ask for cooperation in the manner of donations and voicing their opinions. They gather many people together to strengthen their cause. Helping them can be done easily through the internet.

If they are not willing to participate in wildlife conservation programs, Americans must at least change their view on the topic. This can help influence their choices they will make regarding the issue. During voting, every American should take into consideration the environmental standpoint of the candidate. Many candidates in the East support economic expansion and commercialization, but many in the West support wildlife conservation. Local elections also serve the same purpose. If people live in an area where wildlife is prominent, they should consider the candidate’s impact on their local ecosystems. Also, each state has environmental protection programs. Supporting these and electing candidates who will expand these programs will help to encourage the nation to support wildlife conservation.

Education is the strongest form of assistance to the conservation of the grizzly bear. Many people in America aren’t even aware that the grizzly is endangered, and even fewer know about the populations that were removed from the list. Websites are available for information on the subject. The Great Bear Foundation and the Craighead Environmental Research Team are dedicated to educating the public about the situation. They offer valid statistics, conservation strategies, and vast supplies of habitat information. However, for these websites to be accessed, people have to be notified in person beforehand.

The key to educating the public is to put the information in public places. People need to pass out flyers, give speeches, or simply tell their friends about how vital this species really is. By changing one person’s opinion, a chance that they will change a friend’s opinion arises. Men and women from the organizations mentioned before stand on city corners asking passers to take a stand for wildlife conservation. While some listen, many do not. Many biologists gather at the national parks to give speeches and educate the tourists. Conservationists try desperately to spread the information throughout the internet. Still, many ignore the issue. Each person who ignores the person who is trying to make a difference has only contributed to the problem.

While hunters are some of the main threats to grizzly bears, they are also some of the saviors of their habitats. Hunters have purchased more land in the habitats than any other group. They purchase the land to hunt deer, elk or moose, and in turn, protect the grizzly bears habitat from invasion. These people are inadvertently contributing to the conservation of American wildlife. If other wildlife conservation groups gain support and funds, they can join the race to buy the habitat and save it from destruction. Any man or woman dedicated to the survival of this bear can donate a small amount of money and make a drastic difference.

America’s wildlife depends on the conservation of the grizzly bear. By protecting this great brown bear, all other species that live in harmony along with it are salvaged. It’s protection saves the forests from pollution and deforestation. Americans have to leave what is left of the lively wild environment for future generations. The grizzly bear is not only the greatest symbol of American wilderness, but it is also the greatest tool to conserve it.

Works Cited

“About us.” Greenpeace. 9 April 2008. <http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/about>

“Bear News.” Great Bear Foundation. 8 April 2008. <http://www.greatbear.org/bearnews.htm>

Craighead Environmental Research Institute. 2008. <http://www.grizzlybear.org/>

“Final Conservation Strategy for the Grizzly Bear in the Yellowstone Ecosystem.” Interagency Conservation Strategy Team. March 2003. 9 April 2008.

“Grizzly Bear.” Defenders of Wildlife. 9 April 2008.<http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/grizzly_bear.php>

“Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy.” Canada Ministry of Environment. 8 April 2008. <http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wld/grzz/>

“Grizzly Bear Information Sheet.” 2008. Columbia Mountains Institute. 9 April 2008. <http://www.cmiae.org/grizzlyinfo.htm>

“Grizzly Bear Recovery.” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 8 April 2008. <http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/grizzly/yellowstone.htm>

Henton, Darcy. “Biologists Push for Action on Grizzly Plan.” Edmonton Journal 5 April 2008.

Mattson, David and Matthew Reid. “Conservation of the Yellowstone Grizzly Bear.”

Conservation Biology 5. September 1991. 364-372. Inspire. Purdue North Central Library, Westville, IN. 14 April 2008. <http://www.inspire.net/>

National Parks Conservation Association. 2008. NPCA. <http://www.npca.org/>

“Questions and Answers Removal of the Yellowstone Ecosystem Population of Grizzly Bears from the List of Threatened and Endangered Species” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 19 March 2007. 9 April 2008.