[DWB27]

I've heard but not found information of a Grizzly Bear siting in the old Tripod Complex Fire northeast of Winthrop last summer by a helicopter pilot fighting the Twisp Complex Fire. Anyone know more? This Methow Valley News story is worth a look. http://methowvalleynews.com/2016/07/27/big-bear-but-not-a-grizzly/ In May of this year I witnessed 2 yearling black bears playing on the Chewach River 2.5 miles north of Winthrop. It was brushy but one bear was black, the other very much brown. Cinnamon Black Bears abound around Stehekin. The photo in the link clearly has a black bear face (pointy nose and ears) but grizzled brown hair and a hump back. In 1996 I'm 98% certain I saw a grizzly at Kool-Aid Lake above Cascade Pass. It was huge and was rummaging for marmots as far as I could tell. The book "Grizzly Wars" stated a grizzly skull was found at Cache Cal - about 2 miles from Cascade Pass and 1 mile from Kool-Aid lake. I used to watch the grizzlies at the WSU bear center in college so feel pretty confident in my siting. The giveaway is the long, whitish claws. I've also seen the Monogram Lake Black Bear photos. Big animal, but dark in color and later bear experts decided it was a Black Bear. Link here: https://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7991996&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0 See thread page 3 for best photos. Is it possible that blacks and grizzlies mate? Any rumors of real grizz sitings in WA this year? All the fear surrounding them for reintroduction to the NC's would be silly if they are already there. I think there are a few and hope there is proof sooner than later.

[treeswarper]

I have always suspected that one or two very shy grizzly bears, or more, have been lurking and moving around. A fairly reliable person said he saw one in the Southern Warshington Cascades. I won't say where, but it seems like a good, isolated spot for a bear to be with lots of berries to eat. Since bears don't know about boundaries or care about immigration laws, I will bet that they wander about near the Canadian Border, after all, moose do. And yes, I with the Park Service miscreants would leave things be. Grizz's have the habitat, they ought to be left on their own to migrate. Unfortunately, if one doesn't get a good photo with a newpaper showing the date or have a PHD in grizzly studies, one's claim to have seen a griz is not taken seriously. No, I don't believe the species interbreed. But I don't have a PHD in bear studies.

[wildernessed]

Ursid Hybrid

[gb]

[Steve Erickson]

Not being critical in any way but size alone does not mean it is a grizzly. Black bears can weigh more than 600 lbs. Rare but it has been documented. I don't know the largest documented black bear from our state but they have been recorded this size and above in other states/provinces.

[GrnXnham]

Grizzly bear sitings in Washington seem to be about as reliable as sasquatch sitings--lots of stories, hearsay, and blurry pictures.

[gb]

[gb]

[B+L]

WDFW got a positive ID from a hair snare in the Selkirks last fall and they recently captured and radio-collared a 5-6 year old male. WDFW Wildlife Program Weekly Report - June 27 (PDF)

[MadCapLaughs]

[gb]

Wildlife biologists place less value in identification on "sighting" a bear. They place the greatest reliability on DNA evidence and secondly on tracks. I saw unmistakable tracks. And I'm not in court. The couple from Montana had the Grizzly walk very near their camp. They were a Montana couple from Montana where they routinely see Grizzlies hiking. Who knows, maybe they were looking through funny glasses? Although you may doubt the tracks I measured and documented to the wildlife biologist of the Grizzly Bear Outreach program (since renamed), the biologist did not. Cameras were put out after this event.

[wolffie]

Since USFW or NPS has relocated 28 "problem" grizzly bears from Yellowstone to the Cascades, a grizzly sighting would not surprise me. I know this is true because I've met 4 Darrington locals in the past year who've told me this (not sure I recall the exact number however). Since it's apparently a secret guvmint program (in defiance of a WA state law prohibiting importation of out-of-state bears), we have no way of knowing how many tgroublesome grizzlies are wandering around out there without a green card.