Date: September 16th, 2024 11:26 AM
Author: Mainlining the $ecret truth of the univer$e (I have concepts of a plan. )
The idea that grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) could naturally reestablish themselves in Colorado, particularly from the southern region of the Wind River Range in Wyoming, is a fascinating possibility but also a highly challenging one. Grizzly bears in the lower 48 states are indeed expanding their territories slowly, and there are recent examples of grizzly populations moving into new areas. However, the potential for grizzlies to establish themselves in Colorado involves numerous ecological, geographical, and human-related factors that complicate this scenario.
Grizzly Bear Expansion in the Lower 48: Current Trends
1. Current Grizzly Bear Range Expansion:
Grizzly bears in the contiguous United States primarily reside in and around the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) in Montana, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) spanning Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, the Cabinet-Yaak Ecosystem in Montana and Idaho, and the Selkirk Mountains in Idaho and Washington. These ecosystems are considered the primary strongholds of the grizzly population in the lower 48.
In recent years, grizzly bears have been expanding their range from these core areas. For instance, in the GYE, grizzlies have moved into places like the Wind River Range in Wyoming, the Beartooth Mountains of Montana, and parts of the Bighorn Basin. Similarly, in the NCDE, bears have been spotted further out from their traditional ranges, such as the prairie ecosystems east of the Rocky Mountain Front in Montana.
These expansions often occur because of younger male bears (subadult males) venturing out in search of new territory, mates, or food. Male grizzlies, in particular, are known to travel great distances; there have been cases where individual bears have moved over 100 miles from their original habitat.
2. Examples of Natural Range Expansion:
Wind River Range, Wyoming: Grizzly bears have naturally expanded into the southern parts of the Wind River Range from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The Wind River Range represents some of the southernmost known grizzly habitats in the Rockies today.
Northern Great Plains, Montana: Bears from the NCDE have been seen venturing into the Northern Great Plains, including agricultural areas that historically have not been part of their range. This is a notable example of grizzlies moving into relatively novel landscapes.
Bighorn Mountains, Wyoming: There have been sightings of grizzly bears in the Bighorn Mountains, approximately 60-80 miles from the core population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. While these sightings are relatively rare, they indicate that bears are capable of crossing less suitable habitats to reach new areas.
Potential for Grizzlies to Reach Colorado from Wyoming
1. Distance and Terrain Challenges:
The distance from the southern Wind River Range in Wyoming to the northern Colorado Rockies is roughly 100-200 miles, depending on the route taken. While this is not an insurmountable distance for a grizzly bear—particularly a male, which can cover dozens of miles in a day—the landscape between the two regions poses significant challenges.
Mountainous and Forested Terrain: From the southern Wind River Range, a bear would need to travel south through several mountainous areas, including the Medicine Bow Mountains in southern Wyoming and into northern Colorado. The terrain becomes increasingly fragmented with human development, road networks, and agricultural land as one moves south.
Barriers to Movement: Key barriers that would likely impede natural dispersal include Interstate highways (such as I-80 and I-25), large areas of human settlement (like Laramie, Wyoming, and Fort Collins, Colorado), and regions of unsuitable habitat, such as plains, farmland, and areas with low forest cover. Grizzly bears prefer forested areas with cover and access to a diverse diet, and these types of habitats become less continuous as one approaches the Wyoming-Colorado border.
2. Behavioral and Ecological Considerations:
Male Bears as Dispersers: Young male grizzlies are most likely to make long-distance movements in search of territory. For example, in 2015, a young male grizzly traveled over 150 miles from the Yellowstone area to near Big Timber, Montana, before being captured and relocated. This shows that male grizzlies can travel far from their established range, but it also highlights the risks they face, such as conflicts with humans, which can end in relocation or lethal management.
Habitat Suitability: For grizzlies to establish a new population, there must be suitable habitat that provides food, cover, and safety from human threats. While parts of northern Colorado, particularly the Rocky Mountain National Park area, might offer suitable habitat, the connecting corridor between southern Wyoming and northern Colorado is fragmented. Suitable habitats are interspersed with less suitable areas, making continuous dispersal challenging.
Food Resources: Grizzlies require a diet that includes a wide range of foods, from vegetation to animal matter. While parts of northern Colorado could support these needs, grizzlies attempting to travel from Wyoming would need to traverse areas that do not consistently provide these resources. This increases the likelihood of human-bear conflicts, as bears may venture closer to human settlements in search of food.
3. Recent Evidence of Expansion Attempts and Comparisons:
Movement into the Bighorn Mountains: The sighting of grizzlies in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming, as mentioned earlier, suggests bears are capable of traversing significant distances over challenging terrain. However, the Bighorns are still within the northern range of Wyoming, and the journey to Colorado would involve crossing even more challenging barriers and less suitable habitats.
Comparisons to Potential Colorado Expansion: Compared to the bears' range expansions into places like the Bighorn Mountains or Northern Great Plains, the route to Colorado poses additional challenges due to the presence of highways, urban areas, and significant stretches of fragmented habitats that are less conducive to safe travel and sustenance for grizzly bears. The connectivity of suitable habitats is a critical factor, and this connectivity is more limited along the Wyoming-Colorado border compared to areas like the NCDE or GYE.
Potential for Grizzlies to Establish in Colorado
1. Possible Routes and Feasibility:
Route via Medicine Bow Mountains and Laramie Range: One possible route would be southward through the Medicine Bow Mountains in Wyoming, crossing into northern Colorado near areas like the Roosevelt National Forest or Rocky Mountain National Park. While these areas offer suitable habitats, the bear would need to navigate a series of human obstacles, including roads, ranch lands, and urban areas, which could prove lethal or lead to capture and relocation.
Route via Plains and Valleys: Another theoretical route could involve bears moving south through more open terrain, such as along the foothills of the Laramie Range, but this is less likely given the greater human presence, lack of cover, and limited food resources.
2. Human-Related Challenges:
Human Development and Conflict: As grizzly bears approach more densely populated areas or agricultural lands, the risk of conflict increases. Bears are attracted to easy food sources such as livestock, garbage, and crops, which can lead to negative encounters with humans. In many cases, such conflicts result in bears being relocated or killed. The challenges posed by human-dominated landscapes make it much harder for bears to establish new populations.
Conservation Efforts and Policy: Even if a few bears managed to reach Colorado, establishing a self-sustaining population would require significant conservation efforts, including creating wildlife corridors, reducing human-bear conflicts, and maintaining habitat connectivity. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife agency has not formally pursued reintroduction, largely due to concerns about public safety, potential conflicts, and the political and logistical challenges involved.
Conclusion: Is Natural Establishment in Colorado Possible?
While it is technically possible for grizzly bears from the southern Wind River Range in Wyoming to eventually make it to Colorado, the likelihood of a self-sustaining population becoming established is low under current conditions. Grizzlies have demonstrated the ability to travel great distances and expand into new areas, but the journey from Wyoming to Colorado presents unique challenges. The fragmented habitat, human developments, road networks, and potential for human-bear conflict create significant barriers.
However, it’s not impossible that a few individual bears might make the journey, particularly younger males looking for new territory. The success of such a dispersal would depend heavily on their ability to navigate human-dominated landscapes and find suitable, connected habitats in northern Colorado. Should these conditions change, such as through increased conservation efforts, habitat restoration, or improved connectivity, the potential for natural reestablishment could improve, but for now, it remains a remote possibility.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5595667&forum_id=2#48094259)