Safeguarding Black Bear, Ursus americanus
A robust black bear population is critical for ecosystem health and resilience. These “ecosystem engineers” disperse seeds, aerate soil, and regulate prey populations. They contribute to plant diversity, nutrient cycling, and forest regeneration. Bears maintain balance in the food web by preying on herbivores and scavengers, ensuring a healthy flow of energy and nutrients.
Based on the latest data, WDFW estimates that there are about 22,000 black bears in Washington. This estimate accounts for all ages of black bears, including cubs. Black bears live in a diverse array of forested habitats in the state. Black bears prefer forest cover. Habitat degradation significantly impacts black bear populations in Washington State, leading to decreased food availability, altered denning sites, and increased human-bear conflicts. Hunting, poaching, human development, and climate change all contribute to habitat degradation.
Black Bear Population at Risk
In 2019, WDFW increased bear hunting (2019 Bear Hunt Rule) even though it had just learned that bear densities were much lower in many areas than previously thought, and that the statewide population was about 30% smaller than long assumed.
What We Are Doing to Protect Black Bear
Action: Speaking out for Black Bear
The Kettle Range Conservation Group partnering with other wildlife advocates attend Commission meetings and track WDFW management of bears. We submit comments and public testimonies on behalf of black bears. In 2023 our collective voice took shape into a rule change petition presented to WDFW asking the Department to amend the WACs to reverse unscientific 2019-21 rule changes jeopardizing state bear populations. This petition was the catalyst to improve the black bear management in Washington state.
Our petition urged WDFW to impose stricter limits on human-caused mortality, specifically advocating for hunting caps following best available science on how mortality impacts bear populations, rather than those that prioritize consumptive interests. On April 4th, 2025, the Commission approved a new bear harvest framework.
The Kettle Rangers advocated for a reduction in the statewide bag limit from 2 to 1 bear and shortening the season by one month from August 1 to September 1. August is a peak time for outdoor recreation such as hiking, camping, and berry picking leading to conflicts between hunters, bears, and recreationalists and a heightened risk of hunting related incidents. We did not succeed changing the bag limit or the season.
BUT, there are a couple changes to the bear rules to celebrate: 1) It is illegal to kill cubs (less than one-year old) and females with cubs and 2) WDFW increased the number of GMUs that require a bear ID test to include Game Management Units where a grizzly bear may disperse to or have in the past and 3) If female mortality rates exceed the statewide average 8 percent intrinsic growth rate of black bears over the three prior years, hunting seasons are decreased in two-week increments from the opener and the bag limit is lowered to one. This rule will be reviewed in 3 years.
It costs just $22 to buy a tag to kill a bear. The price is too small for these majestic keystone species who are crucial for healthy ecosystems.
We are concerned that the 2-bear bag limit might lead to unintentional killing of female bears. WDFW encourages hunters not to shoot sows but that is not illegal. If there are cubs nearby, hunters should not shoot. The 2-bear bag limit significantly increases the risk of overhunting and social disruption and does not line up with the need to preserve bear populations for future generations.