A grizzly bear has been spotted in the Upper Missouri River Breaks for the first time in over a century.
American Prairie, which operates a 450,000 acre nature reserve in the region, released a game camera image of the bear. They say the image was taken in late October at the historic PN ranch near Winifred.
Grizzly populations have increased since the species was protected under the Endangered Species Act in 1975, and have begun to spread out from western Montana’s mountains into the prairies of eastern and central Montana.
Bears were also seen in the Pryor Mountains south of Billings and the Shields Valley north of Livingston this summer.
Facing threats from habitat loss, hunting and conflicts with people and livestock, grizzly bear numbers dwindled to fewer than 1,000 in the lower 48 by the time the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was implemented in 1975. Now, wildlife managers say the Greater Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide populations have recovered and are ready for delisting. Here's a timeline of the management actions, court cases and notable events that have shaped grizzly bear recovery since their ESA listing through today.
