Overview
General Information

Grizzly Bears reach weights of 180-680 kg (400-1,500 lb); the male is on average 1.8 times as heavy as the female, an example of sexual dimorphism. Their coloring ranges widely across geographic areas, from blond to deep brown or black. These differences, once attributed to subspeciation, are now thought to be primarily due to the different environments these bears inhabit, particularly with regard to diet and temperature. The Grizzly has a large hump over the shoulders which is a muscle mass used to power the forelimbs in digging. The head is large and round with a concave facial profile. In spite of their massive size, these bears can run at speeds of up to 55 km/h (35 mph).

Current Listing Status

Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
03/11/1967 Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6) lower 48 States, except where listed as an experimental population or delisted
11/17/2000 Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6) experimental, non-essential, portions of ID and MT
03/29/2007 Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6) Yellowstone DPS
Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6) North Cascades Ecosystem Recovery Zone Population
Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6) Selkirk Recovery Zone Population
Mountain-Prairie Region (Region 6) Cabinet-Yaak Recovery Zone Population

Listed population detail

The FWS is currently monitoring the following populations of the Grizzly bear 
  • Population location: U.S.A., conterminous (lower 48) States, except where listed as an experimental population or delisted
    Listing status:  Threatened
    States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:   Idaho, Montana, Washington
    For more information, please see:  http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/species/mammals/grizzly/
  • Population location: U.S.A. experimental non-essential (portions of ID and MT, see 17.84(l))
    Listing status:  Experimental Population, Non-Essential
    States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:   Idaho, Montana
    USFWS Refuges in which this population is known to occur:   BENTON LAKE WETLAND MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, NINE-PIPE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SWAN RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
    For more information, please see:  http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/species/mammals/grizzly/
  • Population location: Greater Yellowstone Area Distinct Population Segment
    Listing status:  Delisted Taxon-Recovered
    States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:   Idaho, Montana, Wyoming
    For more information, please see:  http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/species/mammals/grizzly/
  • Population location: North Cascades Ecosystem Recovery Zone Population
    Listing status:  Under Review
    States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:   Washington
    For more information, please see:  http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/species/mammals/grizzly/
  • Population location: Selkirk Recovery Zone Population
    Listing status:  Under Review
    States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:   Idaho, Washington
    For more information, please see:  http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/species/mammals/grizzly/
  • Population location: Cabinet-Yaak Recovery Zone Population
    Listing status:  Under Review
    States/US Territories in which this population is known to occur:   Idaho, Montana
    For more information, please see:  http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/species/mammals/grizzly/

Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents

Date Citation Page Title

View All Federal Register Documents
12/06/2007 72 FR 69033 69106 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
04/18/2007 72 FR 19549 19551 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of Seven Wildlife Species and Two Plant Species in the Mountain-Prairie Region
03/29/2007 72 FR 14865 14938 Final Rule Designating the Greater Yellowstone Area Population of Grizzly Bears as a Distinct Population Segment; Removing the Yellowstone Distinct Population Segment of Grizzly Bears From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List as Endangered the Yellowstone Distinct Population Segment of Grizzly Bears
03/13/2007 72 FR 11376 11377 Supplements to the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan
03/13/2007 72 FR 11376 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Conservation Strategy for the Grizzly Bear in the Greater Yellowstone Area

Special Rule Publications

Date Citation Page Title
06/22/2001 66 FR 33619 33622 ETWP; Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of Grizzly Bears in the Bitterroot Area of Idaho and Montana; Removal of Regulations
11/17/2000 65 FR 69623 69643 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Establishment of a Nonessential Experimental Population of Grizzly Bears in the Bitterroot Area of Idaho and Montana
10/17/1989 54 FR 42524 42528 ETWP; Proposed Revision of Special Regulations for the Grizzly Bear; 54 FR 42524 42528
09/23/1986 51 FR 33753 33760 Revision of Special Regulations for Grizzly Bear; 51 FR 33753-33760
07/17/1986 51 FR 25914 25919 Proposed Revision of Special Regulations for Grizzly Bear; 51 FR 25914- 25919
08/29/1985 50 FR 35086 35089 Modification of Special Regulations for Grizzly Bear; 50 FR 35086-35089
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Recovery Summary

Current Recovery Plan(s)
Plan Date Title Plan Status
03/13/2007 Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan Supplement: Habitat-based Recovery Criteria for the Yellowstone Ecosystem Final Revision 1
03/13/2007 Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan Supplement: Revised Demographic Recovery Criteria for the Yellowstone Ecosystem Final Revision 1
06/23/1997 Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan Supplement: North Cascades Ecosystem Recovery Plan Chapter Final Revision 1
09/11/1996 Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan Supplement: Bitterroot Ecosystem Recovery Plan Chapter Final Revision 1
09/10/1993 Revised Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan Final Revision 1

Other Recovery Documents
Doc Date Citation Page Title Document Type
04/18/2007 72 FR 19549 19551 Initiation of 5-Year Reviews of Seven Wildlife Species and Two Plant Species in the Mountain-Prairie Region
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • 03/29/2007 72 FR 14865 14938 Final Rule Designating the Greater Yellowstone Area Population of Grizzly Bears as a Distinct Population Segment; Removing the Yellowstone Distinct Population Segment of Grizzly Bears From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List as Endangered the Yellowstone Distinct Population Segment of Grizzly Bears
  • Final Delisting, Recovered
  • Final Listing, Threatened
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
    • 03/13/2007 72 FR 11376 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Conservation Strategy for the Grizzly Bear in the Greater Yellowstone Area
  • Notice Doc. Availability
  • Notice Doc. Availability, Post Delisting Monitoring Plan
    • 03/13/2007 72 FR 11376 11377 Supplements to the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan
  • Notice Recovery Plan Avail.
    • 11/17/2005 70 FR 69853 69884 Designating the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Population of Grizzly Bears as a Distinct Population Segment; Removing the Yellowstone Distinct Population Segment of Grizzly Bears From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Proposed Rule
  • Proposed Delisting, Recovered
  • Proposed Listing, Threatened
    • 03/09/2000 65 FR 12570 Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement for Grizzly Bear Recovery in the Bitterroot Ecosystem
  • Notice Doc. Availability
    • 03/02/2000 65 FR 11340 Availability of Draft Conservation Strategy for the Grizzly Bear in the Yellowstone Ecosystem
  • Notice Doc. Availability
    • 10/13/1970 35 FR 16047 16048 Appendix D - United States List of Endangered Native Fish and Wildlife; 35 FR 16047 16048
  • Final Delisting, Unlist
    • 07/30/1970 35 FR 12222 12225 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Conservation of Endangered Species and Other Fish or Wildlife); 35 FR 12222 12225
  • Final Delisting, Unlist
    • Delisting Documents
    Date Title
    03/13/2007 Yellowstone grizzly bear conservation strategy & PDM

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    Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents

    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    11/05/1976 41 FR 48757 48759 Proposed Determination of Critical Habitat for Grizzly Bear; 41 FR 48757 48759 (Ursus arctos horribilis) Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

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    Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP):
    HCP Plan Summaries HCP Plan Documents
    Cedar River Watershed HCP N/A
    City of Tacoma, Tacoma Water HCP N/A
    Plum Creek Timber I-90 HCP N/A
    Plum Creek Timber I-90 Land Exchange N/A
    West Fork Timber HCP (formerly Murray Pacific) N/A

    Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA):

    No Safe Harbor Agreements exist for the Grizzly bear.

    Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA):
    CCA Plan Summaries CCA Plan Documents
    Swan Valley N/A

    Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAA):

    No Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances exist for the Grizzly bear.

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    Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings

    Date Citation Page Title Finding

    View All Petition Findings
    03/29/2007 72 FR 14865 14938 Final Rule Designating the Greater Yellowstone Area Population of Grizzly Bears as a Distinct Population Segment; Removing the Yellowstone Distinct Population Segment of Grizzly Bears From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; 90-Day Finding on a Petition To List as Endangered the Yellowstone Distinct Population Segment of Grizzly Bears
  • Final Delisting, Recovered
  • Final Listing, Threatened
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
    • 05/17/1999 64 FR 26735 26733 12-month Finding on Petitions To Change the Status of Grizzly Bear Populations in the Selkirk Area in Idaho and Washington and the Cabinet-Yaak Area of Montana and Idaho From Threatened to Endangered
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted but precluded
    • 06/04/1998 63 FR 30453 30455 Finding on Petitions To Change the Status of Grizzly Bear Populations in the North Cascades Area of Washington and the Cabinet-Yaak Area of Montana and Idaho From Threatened to Endangered
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted but precluded
    • 09/09/1994 59 FR 46611 46612 ETWP; Notice of Finding on a Petition To Change the Status of the Grizzley Bear Population in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem From Threatened To Recovered
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial
    • 08/18/1993 58 FR 43856 ETWP; Notice of Finding on a Petition to Delist the Grizzly Bear in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem, the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem, the Selkirk Ecosystem, and the North Cascades Ecosystem
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Not substantial


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    Life History


    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.


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    Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
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