Avoid Grizzly Bears By Adventuring In This Western US State

When it comes to choosing a state out west to go to for your next outdoor adventure, there are plenty of choices. However, Colorado is probably one of the most popular — and, it's easy to see why considering that this state contains four national parks, including Rocky Mountain (which also happens to be one of the best national parks for freshwater fishing). Colorado also has lots of amazing hiking opportunities, including famous trails like Pikes Peak and the short-but-sweet Bear Lake Loop. And while Colorado does have black bears and mountain lions, one thing you don't have to worry about while out in the wilderness in the Centennial State is the appearance of grizzlies.

So, if you are looking for a state where you can be out in the backcountry without worrying about these large and dangerous predators (grizzlies are actually stronger than most people realize), Colorado is a great choice. In fact, while Colorado was once part of historic grizzly bear territory, the last known bear in the state was killed in 1979 in the San Juan Mountains near the border with New Mexico. Although grizzlies are slowly gaining back some of their territory in the lower 48 of the United States with growing populations in Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana, they expand their territory a very small amount each year and are unlikely to reach Colorado in our lifetimes.

Despite government agencies stating that there are no more grizzlies left in Colorado, there are still some rumors floating around about grizzly bear sightings in the state. The reason for this is likely due to the fact that grizzly and black bears can actually look a lot alike, with some black bears having brown fur and appearing very large. In fact, the best way to tell the difference between a grizzly and black bear is to look at the shoulder hump and the ear shape — something that can be difficult to do if you are viewing the bear from a distance and between trees.

So, despite a few rumors, in all likelihood, there are no more wild grizzly bears in Colorado. However, if you would like to see these beautiful bears, then you can visit some of the state's many great zoos and wildlife sanctuaries. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo located in Colorado Springs has an exhibit that showcases the historical animals of the Rockies which includes a few grizzly bears. The Denver Zoo also has two grizzlies that were rescued as cubs after being orphaned or abandoned. If you want a good chance of seeing grizzlies in the wild in the U.S., the best places are in Alaska — Katmai National Park, in particular.