Grizzly bears making a comeback in the Bitterroot

You are part of the community reconnecting grizzly bears

What were you doing during the summer of 2022?

Whether or not you knew it at the time, as a supporter of Y2Y you were helping grizzly bears access the Bitterroot Valley — a large block of great habitat that is key to the goal of a healthy, interconnected grizzly bear population across the U.S. Northern Rockies.

Although they once lived in the Bitterroot, grizzly bears have been excluded from this area for more than 100 years. Bears from neighboring populations have also had a difficult time traveling there because much of the connecting habitat has been lost or reduced due to development.

But today, positive change is happening thanks to the community of people who want grizzly bears to thrive.

Y2Y and partners work to improve connectivity between protected areas, enable safe passages for wildlife, and help people and wildlife share space. These efforts help give animals, including grizzly bears, room to roam.

This past summer, grizzly bears were on the move in and around the Bitterroot Valley.

“These movements show that bears are able to access this important habitat, and how critical safe connections are for them,” says Y2Y’s Jessie Grossman, who helps lead connectivity efforts in the Yellowstone to Yukon region.

Jessie Grossman, program manager, Y2Y Landscape Connectivity Team

Two bears made several crossings of the busy Highway 93 south of Missoula, spending time in the northern Bitterroot Valley.

A female grizzly bear also crossed Highway 200 between the Cabinet Mountains and the northern Bitterroot mountains.

“These movements show that bears are able to access this important habitat, and how critical safe connections are for them,” says Y2Y’s Jessie Grossman, who helps lead connectivity efforts in the Yellowstone to Yukon region.

Only a handful of known grizzlies have travelled through this area in recent years, including Lingenpolter, a young male who attempted to cross Interstate 90 at least 46 times. Eventually, he crossed safely.

Although Lingenpolter is one bear, he reminds us that many other wildlife species need habitat connectivity.

Bit by bit, bears are navigating areas like the Bitterroot valley and expanding their range, returning to areas they once occupied. Knowing where bears are going helps us focus efforts on the most important places for wildlife connectivity and coexistence.

We can’t continue this work without you. Thank you for giving grizzly bears a beacon of hope in the Bitterroot.