Now is the time to restore the North Cascades grizzly bear!

The North Cascades Ecosystem is the only remaining grizzly bear population on the West Coast of the contiguous United States. Although grizzlies have lived in the North Cascades for thousands of years, biologists estimate that fewer than 10 remain today, making it the most at-risk bear population in North America.

After decades of research, the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies have released proposals to support recovery of this iconic species. This is welcome news, and a historic conservation opportunity. But just how do we restore these magnificent animals?

Follow the story of grizzly bear recovery in Montana’s Cabinet Mountains, through the lens of Ecologist and bear expert Chris Morgan. Grizzly recovery in the Cabinet Mountains, done through science and community involvement, could serve as a model for the North Cascades.

Produced by Conservation Northwest for WildLinks 2014 and the Cascadia Partner Forum, this short video dives into the role of grizzly bears as an important umbrella species for wildlife and wild lands across the Northwest, from B.C. into Washington's North Cascades. Restoring these Northwest natives, now absent from much of their historic range, provides a powerful tool for collaboration, coexistence and region-wide conservation.

Originally produced in 2004 by Conservation Northwest (then the Northwest Ecosystem Alliance) Chris Morgan (Insight Wildlife Management), Vidcom Productions and John Cofrin, we've updated this 30 minute documentary-style film for 2015 and the announcement of a long-awaited North Cascades grizzly bear restoration EIS!

In producing this video, we traveled to Montana's ranching and grizzly bear country to meet with livestock operators, ranchers and expert wildlife managers to see how other states are successfully coexisting with recovering grizzly bear populations.

For more information on North Cascades grizzly bear recovery, please visit: http://www.conservationnw.org/what-we-do/northcascades/north-cascades-grizzly-bear

With grizzly bear restoration proposed in Washington's North Cascades ecosystem, ranchers, farmers and livestock operators, as well as anyone living or recreating in bear country, should be taking steps to prevent conflict with these native animals, protecting both bears, people and property from harm.

As you'll see in this video, with education, bear awareness and some proper precautions, coexisting successfully with grizzly bears on the range is easier than you might think!