A synthesis of historical and recent reports of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in the North Cascades Region
Rine KM, Braaten AM, Oelfke JG, Ransom JI. 2018. A synthesis of historical and recent reports of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in the North Cascades Region. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NOCA/NRR—2018/1662. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
The North Cascades ecosystem of north-central Washington State (US) and southern British Columbia, Canada has been identified as one of six recovery zones for grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) that were at one time distributed across a nearly continuous range of western North America. The current low number of grizzly bears along with an apparent scarcity of historical observations obfuscates the extent to which the North Cascades and its surrounding lowlands previously supported grizzly bears. We reviewed and synthesized what is currently known about the historical distribution of grizzly bears in and around the North Cascades ecosystem to better inform possible future restoration actions. Archeological, ethnographic, and incidental evidence confirm the prehistoric and historic presence of grizzly bears in the ecosystem and surrounding lowlands.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Rine, Kristin; Braaten, Anne; Oelfke, Jack; Ransom, Jason
- Date of Issue
- 2018-06
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- LACH , NOCA , NRSS , ROLA
- Keywords
- archeological, British Columbia, distribution, ecosystem, ethnographic, fur return, grizzly bear, habitat fragmentation, harvest, historical, Hudson's Bay Company, hunting, North Cascades, North Cascades National Park, observation, pelt, population, predator control, recovery zone, restoration, threatened, trapping, Ursus arctos, Washington State