Wind River Bear Institute - Community and Education

Conflicts between bears and people have escalated with the expansion of human populations and activities into bear habitat. Human injuries and property damaged by bears have also increased on private and public lands of the United States and Canada as numbers of people and developed sites have grown. Although the grizzly bear is listed as a "Threatened" species, destruction of bears that pose a threat to humans comprises the majority of grizzly bear mortalities in the lower 48 states. When people and their activities are superimposed over bear habitat, the potential for human-bear conflict exists. To

maintain viable populations of bears for future generations, bear managers and an educated public must implement practices that promote coexistence between bears and humans. (Excerpt from The Partners-in-Life proposal)

With only 1,000 grizzlys left in the lower 48 states, the need for solutions to bear management problems is urgent. Public awareness, education and active involvement is essential. The bear is an intelligent, resourceful and adaptive animal. As stewards of this wild legacy, we must use our intelligence and resourcefulness in adapting our behaviors, practices and public policies to ensure that these magnificent creatures do not disappear from the wild forever.