Keeping bears wild, people safe, and livelihoods in place in Greater Yellowstone
There is perhaps no more powerful symbol of the wild, untamed nature of Greater Yellowstone than the grizzly bear. Native words for bear include the Shoshoni’s “weda',” the Arapho’s “wox,” the Paiute-Bannock’s “padooa,” and the Apsáalooke/Crow’s “daxpitchée.”
Grizzly bears are the icon of Greater Yellowstone and a remarkable conservation success story. Yellowstone grizzlies were once on the brink of extinction, yet today, after decades of persistent efforts to restore this magnificent species, they are finally expanding their range to places they haven’t been seen in generations. Even though numbers are up, Yellowstone grizzly bears are still an isolated population in the Lower 48. And, with the species expanding, it’s important to understand how fundamentally linked human development is to the health of a bear population.
Grizzly bear near Frying Pan Spring in Yellowstone National Park. (Photo NPS/Jim Peaco)
In Greater Yellowstone, road density is the number one predictor of grizzly bear mortality. Said another way, the more roads there are in grizzly bear habitat, the more often bears come into contact with humans and are killed.
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition has worked hard to keep grizzlies wild, people safe, and livelihoods in place over the last 37 years. From a dwindling population of about 200 bears in 1975 to roughly 750 today, we’ve seen a remarkable comeback for this iconic species, yet challenges remain both to bears, and to the people living and working in bear country.
Over the years, we have used various tools to ensure the bears’ recovery. Recently, we have prioritized working with a wide range of people – from scientists to ranchers to agency personnel - to realize successes for all who share this landscape. Our goals are to engage those who care about or come into conflict with grizzly bears and create space to find solutions and build consensus. Bringing new ideas and innovative solutions to the table has allowed us to achieve these milestones:
Core Habitat: Working to protect critical areas of public and private lands
GYC successfully advocated for new land protections in critical bear habitat, including keeping drill pads off of 1 million acres on the Shoshone National Forest and gold mining from destroying 30,000 acres on the Custer Gallatin National Forest.
GYC has worked with ranchers, federal agencies, and non-profit partners to buy out and retire grazing allotments from willing sellers totaling more than 897,000 acres. These retirements are a win-win, for both wildlife and ranchers.
GYC has helped advance on-the-ground restoration work on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest to improve wildlife habitat and fisheries in the Island Park Ranger District.
(L-R) GYC’s Executive Director Scott Christensen, Senior Wildlife Program Associate Brooke Shifrin, and Director of Conservation Siva Sundaresan converse after visiting a livestock composting site in Montana’s Ruby Valley. The composting site was created to help reduce conflicts between livestock, ranchers, and bears. (Photo GYC/Emmy Reed)
Conflict Reduction: Helping to bear-proof public lands and educate people on how to live and recreate alongside bears
GYC partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to address the needs of 164 National Forest campgrounds surrounding Yellowstone, including financial support to bear-proof 102 locations.
GYC educated hunters, hikers, and kids on the effectiveness of bear spray - and how to use it - while recreating or hunting in bear country.
GYC funded range riders and electric fencing to keep humans, livestock, and bears safe. These methods are effective tools in reducing conflicts between livestock and bears.
GYC’s Wildlife Program Coordinator Chris Colligan (brown plaid shirt) teaches Jackson, Wyoming locals how to safely and correctly use bear spray using inert cans.
Connectivity: Creating space for Yellowstone grizzly bears to connect and breed with bear populations to the northwest, ensuring genetic diversity and long-term health
GYC supported the citizen-led Grizzly Bear Advisory Council’s recommendations, which call for managing for grizzly bear movement and connectivity in Montana.
We partnered with land trusts to protect over 5,000 acres of private lands in key connectivity zones for bears in southwest Montana.
We are helping lead the Montanans for Safe Wildlife Passage Coalition, which is advocating for wildlife crossing structures on highways at critical locations in Montana.
We are proud of our work, yet there is still so much more to do. The Greater Yellowstone Coalition will continue to work on landscape protections, conflict reduction, and ensuring connectivity for Yellowstone’s grizzly bears. And we will continue to advocate for wildlife policies at the state and federal level that ensure grizzly bears and other species continue to thrive. With your support, these iconic animals will continue to roam the wilds for generations to come. Be sure to check out our recent podcast for a deeper dive into conserving grizzly bears in Greater Yellowstone.
— Scott Christensen, Executive Director
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is the land of 30+ Indigenous Tribes who maintain current and ancestral connections to the lands, waters, wildlife, plants, and more.
