Bear
Table of Contents
Ecological Roles of Bears
Nitrogen Transfer & Soil Disturbance
"In British Columbia, grizzly bears feed on adult salmon when they return to their original rivers and streams to reproduce. Pacific salmon play an important role in the transfer of nutrients and energy from the marine to terrestrial environment [10][11]. Grizzly bears facilitate this by dragging salmon carcasses up from the river onto the land where they are consumed by the bears themselves and other terrestrial predators inserting an energy source into the terrestrial food web. As well the salmon carcasses decompose on the land, releasing nutrients (specifically high levels nitrogen) into the surrounding soils. These nutrients are necessary for productive soils that encourage plant growth, in turn facilitating high biodiversity. As well, as grizzly bears scavenge for roots and tubers in the fall they dig and turn up the soil. Homogenized soil is a major factor in unproductive land, thus turning up the soil increases productivity of the land, in the same manner that farmers will regularly till their soil. Increasing the productivity of the soil thus again increases vegetative biomass and facilitates plants biodiversity, which supports further animal biodiversity of both herbivores and predators." - University of British Colombia
Prey Regulation
Apex predators such as bears have strong top-down effects on their direct prey and associated species, so much so that their removal causes a trophic cascade. "Bears and wolves are the main large predators in the north-west ecosystem, and strongly regulate moose populations [8]. Without the regulation of bears and wolves, moose populations would boom and decimate the local vegetation, rapidly decreasing biodiversity and food sources for other herbivores, affecting the entire ecosystem. Besides from herbivore booms, loss of large predators can cause changes in prey behaviour and changes in the diets/behaviour of smaller meso-carnivores in the region [8]. Grizzly bears consume mammals, fish, invertebrates, and plants, thus their ecological effects extend to all areas of the British Columbian ecosystem, including both terrestrial and aquatic realms." - University of British Colombia
Seed Dispersal
"Grizzly bears are omnivores and consume both meat and vegetation. Bears will hunt animals, which provide a higher energy pay-off, when available or populations are high enough that they are energetically efficient to hunt, mainly in the summer. In the fall they typically dig for roots [7] and in the spring they scavenge for ripening fruits and berries [9]. Bears are part of a symbiotic relationship with the plants they eat in the spring, as they gain energy and nutrients from eating the fruit and then disperse seeds for the plants [7]. Specifically, grizzly bears have been recorded to be important seed dispersers for blueberries and buffalo berries, although they perform this important function for a wide variety of plant species. When bears disperse seeds after ingestion they release them in their feces, which provides a nutrient rich environment from which they grow. Thus grizzly bears play an important role not only in seed dispersal but also in creating an optimal environment for seed germination. This encourages plant growth and dispersal, which increases biodiversity and vegetation biomass for other herbivore’s consumption." - University of British Colombia
Threats to Bears
Human vs Wildlife Conflicts
Hunting
Hunting is still allowed, despite the scientific community warning about the consequences, and many countries already facing ecological decline because of bear's dwindling numbers or full extermination. In some countries bears are eaten, and even turned into sausages. In places like Asia they are kept in tiny cages and milked for their bile, a process that opens them up to deadly infections.
Feeding/Littering/Improperly Stored Food or Trash
This teaches bears to associate humans and our communities or camping areas with free food which can lead to deadly conflicts over time.
Cave Disturbance
Caves are used for hibernation, but pollution and human disturbance can make these less accessible or less safe for bears to use.
Habitat Destruction
Farming
We use almost half of Earth's habitable space for farming, and 77% of that land is used for livestock. When farmers feel their animals are threatened by predators like bears, they or the government often use deadly force to reduce conflict, despite scientific evidence showing that deadly control actually backfires, causing worse and more expensive problems over time.
Logging
Globally, land clearing for cattle is the #1 cause of deforestation, driving 5 times more deforestation for beef than any other industry. The 2 next greatest drivers are soy and palm, which are both major livestock feed ingredients (with growing markets), and the 4th greatest driver is the wood and pulp industry. In Canada, the USA's demand for toilet paper is driving deforestation of ancient Boreal forests.
Logging and land clearing not only destroys habitat in which bears and their prey shelter, but the very foods like berries that bears plus their prey rely on.
Habitat Fragmentation
Highways or freeways bisect bear habitat, reducing their genetic diversity. Solutions such as bear-friendly wildlife crossings will help both bears and other species improve their genetic variation, as well as reduce human/animal mortality rates along major roads.
Calls to Action
Level 1-3
Support a bear cub rescue or other bear conservation conservation programs. Check out our Organizations section to find a group near you.
Visit a bear sanctuary or national preserves for your next vacation. Some places offer tours, so please respect the bears by paying attention to the safety rules, and keeping them in mind when you see wild any animals.
Buy bear-friendly products, or find bear-friendly alternatives. For example we can reduce deforestation with simple diet changes, and installing bidets or bidet fixtures to reduce or eliminate toilet paper use.
Level 3-4
Contact your politicians to tell them bears need better protections from humans. That more should be done to end hunting and habitat loss.
Protection, Management, & Targets for Bears Conservation
In the Cross Hairs: The Road to Recovery for Alberta's Threatened Grizzly Bears
Rewilding & Reintroductions
This section focuses on places where conservationists and scientists are working towards reintroductions to help rebalance declining ecosystems, or examples of places where bears have already been reintroduced successfully 🎉 .
Europe
France 🎉
"In the case of France’s brown bear reintroduction, the early focus on community involvement has helped stave off most conflict – even if issues do remain. And in terms of pure numbers, the reintroduction has proven a startling success.
Since the efforts began, the brown bear population has increased by 11 percent a year on average. According to the Office Français de la Biodiversité, a government body responsible for wildlife and the environment, there are now 76 bears spread across some 5,700 square kilometres of mountain range – the highest number for a century." - Rewilding Mag: How France Brought Brown Bears Back to the Pyrenees
North America
USA
California
The Center for Biological Diversity: Bring Back the Bears "In 2014 the Center filed a legal petition calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to greatly expand its plans for recovering grizzly bears across the American West. The petition identified 110,000 square miles of potential grizzly habitat in places like the Gila/Mogollon complex in Arizona and New Mexico, Utah's Uinta Mountains, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, and California's Sierra Nevada.
...
Along with other exciting findings, the Research Network’s modeling shows that there’s a far larger area of feasible habitat for grizzlies in California than even the Center’s expansive petition advocated for, including across the Sierra Nevada, the northwest forests, and Los Padres National Forest. "
Washington
Wilderness and Grizzly Bears for the North Cascades "The Rewilding Institute supports the active reintroduction of Grizzly Bears to the North Cascades Ecosystem (NCE). We favor minimizing disturbance to and intervention in the Wilderness and conserving and restoring its whole native biota."
Bears by Location
Asia
Taiwan
Formosan Black Bear "is one of the seven subspecies of Ursus thibetanus formosanus endemic to Taiwan and is considered an endangered wild animal. At present, there are only about 200 to 600 of them left in Taiwan."
North America
Grizzly Bear Conservation in BC, Canada This page talks about grizzly bears, their function as keystone species , and includes a map of their shrinking range.
South America
Spectacled Bears are the only species on this continents, though generally in northwestern countries: Bolivia, Chile, Colimbia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela. A few have been seen in Panama and the extreme north of Argentina.
Population estimates range from 5,000 to 30,000 remaining after being hunted and losing valuable territory. El Corredor Ecológico del Oso is one reserve that can be seen in Ecuador.
For Educators
North America
Canada
Grizzly Bear Foundation's Unit of Study: The Importance of Grizzly Bears in Our Environment This includes lesson plans, photos, infographics, and talks about many aspects of bears including their ecological, cultural, and economical benefits.
Resources & Research
California Grizzly Research Network: Projects "Since 2016, the California Grizzly Research Network has pursued more than a dozen research projects. Some of these are complete while others are still in development; all of our projects are listed below. Please check back again soon for updates!"
Maps
International
Bear Habitat Map (interactive) "This map shows the overlapping habitats of Polar, Brown, Black, Sun, Panda, Spectacled, Asian, and Sloth Bears. The ring around the images has the colors of the different ecoregions, each species occupies. Due to range overlapping, a single species might have more than one color. Each image is a button that you can select to pick the distribution of a particular species."
North America
USA
Texas
Black Bears May be Returning to Their Native East Texas Habitat Including Liberty County "The black bears native to east Texas have experienced a habitat reduction of 80 percent due to property fragmentation, deforestation and unregulated sport hunting. As a result, their numbers in east Texas have dwindled to zero.
That matters because as apex predators, the bears once played an essential role in the balance of the east Texas ecosystem. Were they around, they might be keeping the exploding populations of deer and rampaging feral hogs in check.
That’s where the Texas Black Bear Alliance (TBBA) comes in. The nonprofit organization is working with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) to explore eventually bringing black bears back to east Texas.
They estimate that through their efforts, the bears could be reintroduced here within the next 20 years."
Organizations
International
Bears in Mind "uses its knowledge, expertise and financial resources to protect bears (and their habitat) in the wild, and bears in captivity. The foundation works together with local organizations, universities and governments on projects focusing on nature conservation, welfare, education & awareness. The conservation of the bear’s habitat (Brown bear, Sloth bear, Andean bear, Sun bear, Asiatic black bear, American black bear, Polar bear) also includes other animal species that share the same habitat."
Asia
Animals Asia: End Bile Farming "Animals Asia has been rescuing bears from bile farms for almost 20 years, and campaigns for an end to all bear bile farming in Asia.
We've saved just under 700 bears from the abusive bear bile farming industries in Asia. More than any other charity.
Most of the bears we rescue are defeated and broken after many years of abuse. They require many months or even years of extensive veterinary care and rehabilitation.
Animals Asia has two world-class sanctuaries for bears rescued from bile farms. One in China and one in Vietnam.
Sadly, bears used for bile farming cannot be released back into the wild. Most are captured as cubs or young bears and do not have the life skills to be able to survive. Furthermore, most bears we rescue are in very poor health.
But our sanctuaries enable the bears to live out their lives in peace, in the company of other bears.
We do everything we can to provide as natural and interesting an environment as possible where they can climb trees, swim in pools or simply lie on the grass in the sun."
Cambodia / កម្ពុជា។
Free The Bears: Cambodia Sanctuary "Located inside the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre, just outside of the capital city of Phnom Penh, Free the Bears sun & moon bear sanctuary was established in 1997. Following a spate of bear cub rescues, in 1999 the bear cub playpen was built and in 2000 facilities for adult sun bears were extended. A fully equipped Wildlife Hospital was completed in 2006 to help our bears and other species in need."
India / भारत
Free the Bears: India's Sloth Bears "For over 400 years, the sloth bear had been exploited by a nomadic tribe known as the Kalandars. Originally used as entertainment for emporers, 'dancing' bears eventually became entertainment for villagers and tourists. Mother bears were killed and cubs sold to the Kalandar people, who would then put a red hot poker through the muzzle of the baby bear, often without anaesthetic. A rope was threaded through the sensitive muzzle and then pulled to cause the bear to ‘dance’, a truly horrific practice and miserable life for the bear.
The first group of 25 rescued bears entered the Agra Bear Rescue Facility on Christmas Eve of 2002 and over the next seven years Free the Bears fully supported the Kalander Rehabilitation Program, providing seed money for more than 500 former dancing bear families to set up new livelihoods. They now have a stable community full of successful small businesses and their children have attended school & university for the first time ever - a wonderful success story.
... The rescued sloth bears are living in four large, natural sanctuaries operated by Wildlife SOS organisation, who we helped support for over 18 years."
Laos / ປະເທດລາວ
Free the Bears: Laos Sanctuaries "In collaboration with the Laos Department of Forestry, construction of the Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre in Luang Prabang began in 2003. Eventually three bear houses were built with a capacity for 25 rescued bears."
...
We're providing valuable training, employment opportunities and alternative livelihoods to government officials, local villagers and youth, who are destined to become Lao's future wildlife warriors. We'd love for you to visit as a volunteer to help us care for rescued wildlife and develop the sanctuary."
Taiwan / 台湾
Taiwan Black Bears Conservation Association/台灣黑熊保育協會 "這是專為台灣黑熊請命和保育而成立的民間非營利組織，希望積極凝聚各界保育的力量和熱情，以實際行動來幫助台灣黑熊。
我們期盼不僅能夠實質保護台灣美好的山林環境，為野生動物保有永續生存的空間， 也期望這些豐富的自然資源能夠細水長流，留給島上的下一代以及來自其他地方的世界公民所共享。"
Vietnam
Free the Bears: Vietnam Sanctuaries "Cat Tien Bear Rescue Centre was opened in 2008 inside Cat Tien National Park, in collaboration with the Forest Protection Department of Vietnam. Our first group of 9 rescued bears were greeted by the largest semi-natural habitat in Vietnam for rescued wildlife.
More bear rescues placed strain on the limited facilities and in 2017 we proudly opened the Cat Tien Bear Sanctuary and were able to move 16 moon bears to a huge forest enclosure (Bear House 1).
In March 2018 Bear House 2 was opened, giving 8 sun bears access to a large patch of forest and greatly reducing the pressure on the old bear rescue centre. In 2019 our Wildlife Hospital and Bear House 3 were opened."
Europe
France
Pays de l’Ours (French for “Bear Country”) is part of a multi-pronged effort spanning biological monitoring, political campaigning, infrastructure investment and community outreach that has successfully reintroduced the once-nearly-extinct brown bear back into the Pyrenees.
Italy
Rewilding Apennines "Rewilding Apennines works with the Italian members of the European Rewilding Network in order to boost the rewilding movement in the country and to place side by side their initiatives."
"The most charismatic and famous inhabitant of the mountain forests here is the Marsican brown bear, an endemic subspecies to this region." Click here to read about their LIFE Bear Smart Corridor project.Salviamo l’Orso "is a non-profit, volunteer-led association working to save the Marsican brown bear from extinction by appealing to everyone who cares about this unique species and its natural environment.
Our work pairs engagement with various authorities and organizations with practical on-the-ground interventions that help protect these bears." Leggi in italiano qui
Greece
Rewilding Apennines: LIFE Bear Smart Corridores in Italy & Greece "In Greece, the project will improve habitat quality and permeability over ca. 650 km2 increasing dispersal opportunities in two important corridors for bears. The proposed measures will improve living conditions for bears, develop positive coexistence between bears, local people and communities, which in turn will enhance the chances for the long-term survival of the brown bears."
Romania
Carpathia "Creation of a Wilderness Reserve in the Southern Carpathian Mountains, Romania"
Mossy Earth: Romania's Brown Bears "Romania's Carpathian Mountains are home to some of Europe’s last remaining truly wild forests and the largest population of bears, wolves and lynx. Sadly, this ecosystem hangs in the balance due to years of illegal logging. Our goal is to restore the barren clear cuts that threaten these forests. In partnership with Foundation Conservation Carpathia we are working to restore clear cuts in the Romania's Southern Carpathian Mountains."
North America
Grizzly Bear Foundation: Project Rewild: Orphaned Grizzly Cubs "works to ensure orphaned grizzly bear cubs get a second chance at life in the wild."
3:01 minute video about the Grizzly Cub Rewilding Project
Canada
Grizzly Bear Foundation: Alberta's Threatened Grizzly Bears "Use your voice to help safeguard the grizzly bear’s future in Alberta. Tell the provincial government that it’s time to take action for our threatened grizzlies today."
USA
The Center for Biological Diversity "is at the core of the effort to return grizzlies to California.
In 2014 the Center filed a legal petition calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to greatly expand its plans for recovering grizzly bears across the American West. The petition identified 110,000 square miles of potential grizzly habitat in places like the Gila/Mogollon complex in Arizona and New Mexico, Utah's Uinta Mountains, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, and California's Sierra Nevada.
As grizzlies are under fire across the northern Rockies, expanding their range not only moves them closer to recovery beyond the Service’s minimalistic vision of a mere 2,000 bears across only 4% of their former range — it also helps secure their future outside more hostile states.
The Center’s petition inspired efforts across the West to explore a much more courageous vision for grizzly recovery, including by the California Grizzly Research Network, a University of California research group that undertook a thorough study of the past, present, and future of grizzlies in the state.
Along with other exciting findings, the Research Network’s modeling shows that there’s a far larger area of feasible habitat for grizzlies in California than even the Center’s expansive petition advocated for, including across the Sierra Nevada, the northwest forests, and Los Padres National Forest. Ultimately the group’s research concludes that returning bears to California isn’t impossible, but it’s a choice we can make."U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Grizzly Bear Recovery Program (PDF)
Alaska
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) "Most of the animals that have come to AWCC have either been orphaned or injured. With consent from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, animals taken in by AWCC are cared for by our animal care staff and are given a permanent home at AWCC."
California
California Grizzly Alliance "dedicated to recovering grizzly bears in California. The California Grizzly Alliance is comprised of researchers, tribal leaders, wildlife advocates, land managers, and community members."
California Grizzly Research Network "The purpose of the California Grizzly Research Network is to promote—through rigorous interdisciplinary research and outreach—a more informed scholarly and public conversation about the past and potential future of grizzly bears in California."
Minnesota
The North American Bear Center "is the only black bear and wildlife educational facility of its kind. Dedicated to replacing old myths with facts, it lets people learn from the bears themselves about bear behavior, ecology, and their relations with humans."
Washington
Wilderness and Grizzly Bears for the North Cascades "The Rewilding Institute supports the active reintroduction of Grizzly Bears to the North Cascades Ecosystem (NCE). We favor minimizing disturbance to and intervention in the Wilderness and conserving and restoring its whole native biota."
South America
The Andean Bear Conservation Alliance (ABCA) by the Cleveland Zoological Society at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo"is an initiative led by your Zoo to drive research, monitoring, and conservation planning for wild Andean bear populations. Partnering with government agencies, national parks and protected areas, and other key stakeholders, ABCA trains professionals from Colombia to Peru in Andean bear monitoring technologies – an important tactic in the goal of better understanding Andean bear distribution across the bears’ vast range."
Colombia
Pro Aves "works to protect its 27 Nature Reserves, conserving more than 65,000 hectares of key ecosystems for Colombia’s biodiversity, including alpine tundra ecosystems such as the páramo and subpáramo, mountain forests, tropical rainforests, tropical dry forests, and mangrove swamps."
Rainforest Trust: Saving the Last Rainforest in Colombia's Magdalena Valley "The Magdalena Valley is larger than the state of Colorado yet has incredibly high endemism, providing vital habitat for many threatened species that live nowhere else on Earth." ... "After years of negotiations, Rainforest Trust and our local partner ProAves have secured the purchase rights to a strategic 1,178-acre property at $285 per acre. The new parcel is strategically located beside the most vulnerable flank of El Paujil Bird Reserve and would block road access for loggers."
Ecuador
The Andean Bear Foundation "(ABF) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization that works for the conservation of the Spectacled/Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus), its habitat and associated species like the mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque). The work of the ABF has a strong focus on field research that looks to improve the knowledge about these species in the wild. With updated information about its population patterns the ABF will be able to develop or suggest better management practices for the species to be implemented by Ecuadorian environmental authorities and even neighboring countries where the species currently occurs.
Projects lead by the ABF depend mainly on donations and volunteering activities. However, resources obtained this way are generally scarce so it has been necessary to explore alternative funding sources. This eco-tourism project is a new way of funding which allows tourists to see wild bears and tapirs in their natural habitat."
Peru
Spectacled Bear Conservation/Conservasion del Oso de Anteojos "We integrate community partnerships, habitat protection and research to ensure that spectacled bears and their endangered habitat survive and thrive." Their stated mission is to "To conserve and protect spectacled bears and their habitat in northern Peru through scientific research, education and collaboration with local communities and land owners."
Grants & Funding
International
Bears in Mind: Apply for Project Funding "Bears in Mind cooperates with local NGOs, universities, governments and other stakeholders to address and work on bear-related issues, towards a sustainable solution."
North America
USA
Texas
Nongame Grants and Research "Funds to conduct research or conservation activities on federal/state listed species or Species of Greatest Conservation Need are available periodically through Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Wildlife Division. External researchers can apply for funds through the Conservation License Plate Grant Program, State Wildlife Grants, and/or Traditional Section 6 Grants. Projects funded through these programs assist in the conservation and recovery of listed species and inform evaluations of the status of Species of Greatest Conservation Need."