The brown bear, specifically the California Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), is extirpated within the borders of California. This creature, the largest terrestrial animal historically present in the state, was entirely removed from its native range a century ago. Extirpated means the species is locally extinct, though brown bears still exist in other parts of the world.
Confirmation of Extinction
The physical presence of the California Grizzly was officially eliminated in the early 1920s, marking the local extinction of the species. The last confirmed kill of a wild grizzly occurred in August 1922, near the Sierra Foothills in Tulare County. The final reliable sighting of a grizzly bear in California took place two years later, in 1924, within the remote reaches of Sequoia National Park.
Because no wild grizzly bears roam the state, the species is not listed as protected or endangered under California state law. While the species is globally extant, its absence in California means it holds a unique legal status. Grizzly bears in the contiguous United States are federally listed as threatened, but that protection does not apply to a population that no longer exists in California.
The California Grizzly’s Historical Role
Prior to the influx of settlers, the California Grizzly was the apex predator in the state’s ecosystems. Estimates suggest a population of around 10,000 bears roamed nearly all of California, excluding only the southeastern and extreme northeastern corners. These animals were large, with some adult males weighing over 1,000 pounds and standing up to eight feet tall on their hind legs.
The grizzly’s omnivorous diet established them as significant ecological engineers across diverse habitats, from coastal regions to sub-alpine mountains. They foraged on grasses, roots, nuts, and berries, which made them effective seed dispersers, helping to shape California’s native plant communities. Although often portrayed as a hypercarnivore, the grizzly’s diet was largely vegetarian, with meat consumption increasing only after the introduction of European livestock.
Why the Grizzlies Disappeared
The rapid demise of the California Grizzly was a direct consequence of the human population surge that began in the mid-19th century. The 1848 Gold Rush triggered widespread settlement that led to habitat destruction and fragmentation across the state. This abrupt landscape change severely restricted the bears’ movement and access to traditional food sources.
Settlers brought large herds of cattle and sheep, which quickly became an easy, concentrated food source for the grizzlies, leading to increased conflict with ranchers. This tension fueled a systematic eradication campaign, driven by bounties and a desire to protect livestock and human settlements. Hunting became a popular sport, and the bears were viewed as pests to be eliminated rather than as a native component of the ecosystem.
The bears were also captured and exploited for entertainment in organized spectacles, most notably the bear and bull fights popular throughout the 1800s. The combined pressures of habitat loss, organized extermination, and cultural persecution led to a swift decline. The entire population was effectively wiped out in less than 75 years following the Gold Rush.
The Grizzly’s Enduring Symbolic Legacy
Despite its physical absence, the grizzly bear maintains a powerful presence as the official state animal of California. This symbolic status is immortalized on the California State Flag and State Seal, which feature the iconic image of the bear. The flag’s design traces its origins to the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt, a short-lived declaration of independence where a banner featuring a grizzly was first raised.
The grizzly’s legacy is often confused with the common California Black Bear (Ursus americanus), a separate, smaller species that is still abundant in the state. The black bear population has expanded into many areas once occupied by the larger grizzly, benefiting from the ecological niche left behind.
Challenges to Reintroduction
While conservation groups have discussed reintroducing the grizzly, current efforts face significant hurdles. The primary obstacles are the lack of sufficiently large, contiguous wilderness areas and the high density of the modern human population, which makes coexistence challenging.