Deadly apex predator being mulled for release in California after 100-year absence

"Recovering grizzly bears in California is a choice. We can choose to do it by making necessary investments and creating the necessary partnerships to make it possible. There's habitat available. A number of questions can be answered. But it's a choice."

"The bill states grizzlies promote biodiversity and ecosystem heterogeneity by modifying vegetation composition and structure, regulating trophic dynamics, accelerating geomorphic processes, enriching soils with marine and terrestrial nutrients, dispersing seeds, and initiating secondary ecological processes."

"The bears hold enduring cultural, religious, spiritual, and ceremonial significance for many California Native American tribes."

California Senate Bill 1305 proposes directing the Department of Fish and Wildlife to create a roadmap for reintroducing grizzly bears to the state after more than 100 years of extinction. The roadmap would include scientific viability assessments and consultation with California Native American tribes. Grizzlies provide ecological benefits through biodiversity promotion, ecosystem modification, and nutrient dispersal. The bears hold significant cultural, religious, and spiritual importance for Native American tribes. Grizzlies remain iconic in California history, appearing on the state flag and as UCLA's mascot. While habitat exists and questions can be answered, reintroduction requires deliberate investment and partnership development to succeed.

Read at California Post