The Grizzly Bear population is nothing like what it once was. The California State Flag has a Grizzly Bear on it, yet accounts suggest that the last Grizzly Bear in California was shot and killed in 1922. Population estimates are 25,000 in Western Canada, 16,000 of which are in British Columbia. Population estimates for Alaska are about 30,000. Population estimates for the lower 48: less than 1,000, most of which are in Montana, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons (Wyoming). There maybe as many as 100 in Idaho, and less than 30 in Washington.
Finding, photographing, and especially getting a good photo of a Grizzly Bear is a significant challenge, given their very few numbers. The most likely places to look are Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, where the numbers are higher and access is better. I was traveling in Yellowstone about 10 miles north of West Thumb when I came across a mother Grizzly and her cub. There were several people already stopped and looking. Soon a ranger came along to make sure no one got too close. Eventually there were 30 cars or more. But, the Grizzly was a good hundred or more yards away and never turned in our direction. The photo below was the best I got -- even with a 400 mm lens I needed to zoom in with photoshop to get the following out of focus photo:
I still get excited about seeing a Grizzly, but I am always hoping for a good photo. Had the Bear been closer, and looking at me while standing -- that would be a photo. Unfortunately, the Wildlife Photographer doesn't always have cooperative subjects.
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