Bring back the Brown Bear (Fresno, Bakersfield: schools, moving, bars)

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by nslander

I actually pondered this some years ago. The problem is not lack of space; we have more than enough to sustain a sizeable population of black bears. The problem is where their native habitat is located. The brown bear was more apt to range the coastal lowlands. Not sure if grizzleys cruising State St in Santa Barbara will work.

Right. I'd be more interested in bringing back the black bear, if that would be doable.

[nslander]

There is also the unfortunate reality the CA Grizzley sub-species is extinct. Theoretically, however, their cousins in Jellystone could do a Darrin in Bewitched.

[nslander]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Right. I'd be more interested in bringing back the black bear, if that would be doable.

They're doing well. CA Fish & Game estimates 25 - 30k.

As an aside, be careful googling "black bears in CA".

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by nslander

I actually pondered this some years ago. The problem is not lack of space; we have more than enough to sustain a sizeable population of black bears. The problem is where their native habitat is located. The brown bear was more apt to range the coastal lowlands. Not sure if grizzleys cruising State St in Santa Barbara will work.

See zdg's post https://www.city-data.com/forum/30578618-post7.html

[SETI_listener]

Shhhhh, the only thing that will hurt this cause is to start calling them Grizzlies or Kodiak bears.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by nslander

They're doing well. CA Fish & Game estimates 25 - 30k.

OK, I just found info on the CA black bear. But I thought they'd gone extinct, too....? Were they reintroduced at some point, from Nevada?

[Ulysses61]

The OP is misleading. The brown depicted on the California state flag is the grizzly bear, the last of which was shot in California in the 1920's. The "brown bear" is not synonymous with a grizzly and will confuse many here who know nothing about bears.

The black bear is active, alive and well in many portions of California. I hike in the Sierras and have seen hundreds of them over the years. They are shy, docile and run from humans most of the time. The black bear can be many colors, including cinnamon, brown, blonde and black. The Grizzly is larger and more aggressive than the black bear.

[Ruth4Truth]

Good point. ^^ OP is being deliberately vague. OP has also repeatedly declined to explain where the habitat for the reintroduced bears would be. Clarification is needed.

Originally Posted by SETI_listener

Shhhhh, the only thing that will hurt this cause is to start calling them Grizzlies or Kodiak bears.

Originally Posted by nslander;

The problem is not lack of space; we have more than enough to sustain a sizeable population of black bears. The problem is where their native habitat is located. The brown bear was more apt to range the coastal lowlands. Not sure if grizzleys cruising State St in Santa Barbara will work.

[DMenscha]

Bear Valley in Alpine county was originally called Grizzly Bear Valley.

We have black bears in the area all the time.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by nslander

As an aside, be careful googling "black bears in CA".