These States Are Still a Paradise for Bears

America has many wild corners where bears roam free. We have them all, from the towering grizzlies in the mountains to the black bears deep in the woods. 

In this slideshow, we’ll cover the population, habitats, threats, and what makes each state special for these incredible animals. These states have a lot going on behind the scenes. Whether it’s conservation efforts or gaming restrictions, there is a reason why these states are a paradise for bears.

Alaska is home to an estimated 100,000 black bears and over 30,000 brown bears. Alaska is quite literally the bear capital of the U.S. The vast wilderness and salmon-rich rivers play a huge contributing factor. But, also the minimal human interference also makes this a true bear paradise year-round.

Montana has roughly 1,000 grizzlies in the wild, mostly in and around Glacier National Park. The strong protections and remote terrain have kept this state one of the best strongholds for North America’s iconic grizzly bear.

Wyoming supports both black bears and grizzlies. There are estimated to be around 700 grizzlies in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem alone. The state walks a fine line between conservation and hunting, especially as bear-human conflicts occasionally flare up and the hunting is necessary. 

Some forests in certain states are not bear-friendly. And we realize that Idaho doesn’t get much press, but it’s home to thousands of black bears and a small but stable grizzly population. The remote terrain and thick forest provide the natural shelter these bears need to survive in. And the biggest bonus of all is that there is limited human invasion.

The western part of Washington’s dense forests and national parks shelters roughly 25,000 black bears alone. There’s also a big controversial push to reintroduce grizzlies to the North Cascades. This is something the locals aren’t necessarily thrilled with and are still hotly debating.

California’s Hollywood population is booming, but so is the black bear population is. There are estimated to be around 49,000-71,000. Although grizzlies are long gone here, the Sierra Nevada and coastal ranges are full of bear activity and growing bear-human interactions.

Colorado is home to about 20,000 black bears. They're adapting to life closer and closer to people. You will find them raiding trash cans and figuring out how to get through doors. The state uses hazing and hunting to keep the population in balance with the growing cities' development.

The eastern part of North Carolina surprises people. It is home to the densest black bear population in the world. The rich wetlands and food availability around the Albemarle Peninsula support a healthy and still-growing bear population.

Black bears in Michigan mostly survive in the Upper Peninsula. They are numbered to be around 12,000. The thick forests and low human population make it ideal for these adaptable and shy mammals to thrive in the peace that they desperately need.

There are about 12,000 to 18,000 black bears that live in Minnesota. Most of them we will find in the northern part of the state. Their diet includes healthy foods such as berries, insects, and fish. Sometimes black bears will travel for miles just for their favorite food patch.

There are an estimated 35,000 black bears that roam in Maine alone. As we can imagine, this is one of the largest bear populations in one area. There are strong hunting regulations, and large tracts of wilderness make it an underrated haven for these bears to thrive in.

Somehow, with every list of animals, Florida always seems to make the cut. Florida’s black bears are bouncing back, now estimated at over 4,000. From the Ocala National Forest to the Panhandle, bears are finding room to thrive again. Now, despite habitat loss and close calls with growing human development, they are still finding their place. 

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has a booming black bear population of around 1,900 in the park alone. Now, this may not seem like much. However, we have to consider that it is just in that park alone that they are found. However, it is important to manage safety with visitors roaming around. And we need to consider that the food storage is a full-time job for rangers.

Pennsylvania has over 18,000 black bears, despite its dense population and other developed areas. Hunting plays a role in their population control. The state has rightly organized a bear management program that balances conservation with safety measures in place.

Now, let’s end on the states that don’t have bears. And if you didn’t know that there were states that don’t have any then this one is for you. States like Nebraska, Iowa, and most of the Midwest have almost no permanent bear populations. This is due to the habitat, lack of forest cover, and the agricultural development which makes it hard for bears to survive long-term.