They’re on our flag, but do long-gone grizzly bears belong in modern California?

California Democrats are advancing Senate Bill 1305 to study whether grizzly bears—hunted to extinction in the state a century ago—should be reintroduced. Per CalMatters, at least forty tribes and environmental organizations support the proposal, arguing that the apex predator would benefit the ecosystem. Rural residents and ranchers oppose it, saying California's fire-prone, drought-stricken landscape can't handle another major predator on top of existing conflicts with mountain lions and wolves. The state's Department of Fish and Wildlife, already stretched thin, hasn't shown enthusiasm for the project, and the bill provides no funding—any future work would depend on a separate appropriation or outside funding.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton