Ursus arctos horribilis, the grizzly bear, roamed California in large numbers until the early 1900s, when Gold Rush settlers decimated the population. Now, an environmental group is circulating a petition asking California’s Fish and Game Commission to study the feasibility of reintroducing the bear into remote parts of the Sierra Nevadas. We’ll discuss what the proposed return of the grizzly bear could mean for the state’s ecology and for its residents. We’ll also hear from experts about the history and current status of the endangered animal, which can run as fast as 35 miles per hour despite weighing over 400 pounds.
More Information:
- Grizzlies in California? Ad Campaign Aims to ‘Bring Back the Bears’ (KQED Science) mentioned on air