Where do black bears live in Washington?

Where do black bears live in Washington?

Black bears are common throughout Washington except for the non-forested areas of the Columbia basin. Black bears live in a diverse array of forested habitats in the state, from coastal rainforests to the dry woodlands of the Cascades’ eastern slopes.

Where are the most bears in Washington State?

The Enchanted Valley itself, 13 miles from the trailhead at Graves Creek, is possibly the best place to see bears in the state. The second best place would be the Seven Lakes Basin, followed by other areas around the Olympics – I have seen bears in Royal Basin, Grand Lake, Elwha Valley, and the Hoh.

How many grizzly bears are in Washington State?

There are currently believed to be at least 50-60 grizzly bears in the Selkirk Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone with numbers approximately equally divided between the Canadian and U.S. (northeast Washington and northern Idaho) portions of this transboundary ecosystem.

What state has the highest population of black bears?

California: 25,000 to 35,000 This makes it the largest population of black bears of any contiguous state. Since 1948, the state has classed black bears as game mammals, but the state has instituted restrictive laws on bear hunting licenses.

Are black bears aggressive?

In fact, they are often attracted to people’s food sources or get used to the presence of humans. However, black bears are typically not aggressive and fear the “repercussions of attacking someone,” Garshelis said. “They just don’t want to attack people,” Garsheilis said. “They’re kind of timid animals.”

Are there grizzly bears in Washington?

Grizzly bears once occurred in most of Washington, but are now restricted to remote areas of the Selkirk Mountains and certain places near the northern border of Washington between these two ecosystems. These areas support the best remaining seclusion habitat in the state.

Are there wolves in Washington state?

— The official Washington wolf population numbers released today show a statewide total of 206 wolves in 33 packs, with 19 successful breeding pairs. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife documented 30 wolves killed by people in 2021, up from 16 last year.

How many cougars are in Washington state?

With about 90,000 square kilometers of habitat (34,168 square miles), Washington’s cougar population is currently somewhere around 1,500 animals and likely declining due to increased trophy hunting and habitat loss.

Which states have no bears?

The overall population of American black bears in the United States has been estimated to range between 339,000 and 465,000, though this excludes populations from Alaska, Idaho, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming, whose population sizes are unknown.

What lower 48 state has the most black bears?

California is thought to have the largest Black Bear population in the lower 48 states with an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 bears that occupy 52,000 square miles of land.

What to do if a bear is chasing you?

Remain still; stand your ground but slowly wave your arms. Help the bear recognize you as a human. It may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.

How do you scare away a black bear?

To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans or using an airhorn. Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.