Grizzly Bears Might beMaking a Comeback Here in California

In Three Rivers, CA, black bears are considered a cherished part of the community, and the people are never afraid of them. A local shop owner named Cindy Skeen finds black bears mischievous rather than menacing. She heard that Grizzly bears, a bigger and stronger type of bear were being transported to California and she felt intimidated, remembering that people have their children go out hiking by themselves, and some people from other cities are already terrified of the harmless black bears.

It could definitely happen, while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering setting aside 110,000 square miles for Grizzly bears in California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. These agencies are planning on reintroducing grizzlies, but the process could take years. Even though California's state flag has that bear on it, the appreciation ends there, because the grizzlies had been hunted so severely in the Sierra in 1924.

Grizzlies might not be able to find space in California. The comfortable places for big bears are now inhabited by people. "I can understand people wanting to see them there," says Eric Loft, from the California Fish and Wildlife Department. He says it might be too difficult, knowing that there are 40 million people in California.

Another reason why some people might reconsider bringing back grizzlies is that if threatened, they can definitely hurt humans. That's why black bears are a better choice: they don't harm anyone. The willingness that people have to live in the wild with animals could be a problem for antisocial grizzlies. In the end, we will not be bringing Grizzly bears back, there are too many people.

Source: Newsela.