Grizzly bears, the subspecies Ursus arctos horribilis, are not currently present in Arizona. The state was historically part of their vast range across western North America, but it has not supported a grizzly population for nearly a century. This absence is a direct result of human activity and western expansion, which systematically eliminated the species from the southwestern United States.
The Definitive Answer Current Status in Arizona
The simple answer to whether grizzly bears roam Arizona’s wilderness today is no. No established or transient populations of Ursus arctos horribilis have been documented within the state’s borders for decades. The contemporary range of the grizzly bear in the contiguous United States is limited to four isolated recovery ecosystems in Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. The nearest established populations are concentrated far to the north in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems. Arizona is geographically and ecologically outside of the current distribution for the species, confirming its status as locally extinct, or extirpated, from the region.
A History of Extirpation
Grizzly bears were once common throughout the mountainous regions of Arizona, with their historical range including areas like the White Mountains, the Mogollon Rim, and the Grand Canyon uplands. These areas provided the necessary habitat, including high-quality foraging opportunities. The disappearance of the grizzly from Arizona is directly tied to the arrival of European settlers and the subsequent development of the livestock industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Large-scale cattle and sheep grazing led to direct conflict with the wide-ranging predator.
Organized eradication efforts, often supported by government trappers and ranchers, were highly effective in eliminating the species from the Southwest. Grizzlies were viewed as a threat to human safety and a destroyer of livestock, resulting in a targeted campaign. The last confirmed grizzly bear in Arizona was killed in 1935, near Escudilla Mountain in the eastern part of the state, marking the end of the species’ long presence in the region.
Arizona’s Native Bear Population
The only bear species currently found in Arizona is the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus). This species is widespread across the state’s forested and chaparral habitats, and its presence is often the source of confusion for those expecting to see a grizzly. A significant reason for this misidentification is that the black bear is not always black; the Arizona population frequently exhibits a color phase that is brown, cinnamon, or even dark blond. This coat color can lead hikers and residents to mistakenly believe they have encountered a grizzly bear.
Distinguishing the American Black Bear from the grizzly involves focusing on specific physical characteristics beyond just color or overall size. The black bear lacks the pronounced muscular hump over its shoulders, a feature that is characteristic of the grizzly’s powerful digging muscles. The facial profile of the black bear is straight and more dog-like, whereas the grizzly has a concave, or “dished,” profile.
Furthermore, black bears have relatively longer, pointed ears and shorter, more curved claws adapted for climbing trees. In contrast, grizzlies possess smaller, rounder ears and long, straighter claws suited for digging. The black bear is generally smaller, with adult males in Arizona typically weighing between 125 and 400 pounds.