Are There Grizzlies in Colorado?
No, there are no grizzly bears in Colorado. The species is officially classified as extirpated (locally extinct) within the state.
If you see a bear in Colorado today, it is a American Black Bear. Even though they are called black bears, their fur can frequently be blonde, cinnamon, or dark brown, which leads to common cases of mistaken identity. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) estimates the state’s black bear population to be between 17,000 and 20,000.
Where do Grizzlies Live?
In the lower 48 states, stable populations of grizzly bears are strictly limited to just a few isolated recovery zones further north:
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (Northwestern Wyoming, Southwestern Montana, and Eastern Idaho).
The Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (Glacier National Park and surrounding areas in Montana).
Small, fragile populations in northern Idaho and northeastern Washington.
While there are occasional, long-shot rumors of a lone wanderer crossing down from Wyoming, state wildlife officials have found zero physical evidence of a grizzly bear in Colorado since1979.