Enshrined on the California state flag is the grizzly bear, a figure of a bygone era, because the animal has had no presence in the state for over 100 years.
California legislators are hoping to change that by introducing a bill to develop a "roadmap" to reintroduce the now-extinct grizzly bear to the state's ecosystem.
State Sen. Laura Richardson(D - District 35) introduced the legislation to the California General Assembly inSenate Bill 1305.It would require the state'sDepartment of Fish and Wildlifeto develop a comprehensive plan, including scientific assessments, population modeling, potential ecological and socioeconomic impacts, and consultation with California Native American tribes and local communities, to determine the best method of reintroducing the grizzly bear.
"The grizzly bear is a California keystone species known for its powerful influence on ecosystem structure and function," Richardson's bill reads.
The bill was inspired by a study published inOxford's Journal of Heredity in 2025. It found that brown bears in Yellowstone National Park share a common ancestor with the California grizzly bear, which was declared extinct in 1924 after its final sighting was documented in Sequoia National Park.
"The overall genetic similarity between the California and Yellowstone populations, and the strong pattern of isolation-by-distance we observe all suggest that no closer living relatives are likely to be found,"the study reads. "If genetic background is to be a consideration for reintroduction efforts in California, brown bears from Yellowstone might serve as a source population."
If the bill were approved, the department would have until June 30, 2028, to submit the roadmap to the public, the budget and policy committees, the Legislative Analyst's Office, and the Fish and Game Commission. The bill would also restrict the reintroduction of the grizzly bear into California until the department's plan is approved.
The bill was assigned to the California Senate's Natural Resources and Water Committee on March 4, but has not yet received a hearing.
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Why did the California grizzly bear go extinct?
Prior to American settlers' expansion into California during the Gold Rush, it was estimated that about 10,000 California grizzlies lived across the state. They could be found roaming in the forests along the High Sierra to the Los Angeles Basin.
California grizzlies were described as a large bear, with brownish-yellow fur, resulting in the species being nicknamed the "California golden bear," according to theBear Conservation organization.
It was common for settlers to hunt to protect their livestock or to capture California grizzlies for entertainment. Grizzlies were often captured for use in "bull-and-bear" fights, in which the two animals fought to the death.
The last hunt of the California grizzly occurred in Tulare County in August 1922.
These hunting behaviors quickly led to a decline in the grizzly population, and within about 75 years of settlers' arrival, the animal was declared extinct.
"California grizzlies went extinct so quickly (that) there are very few natural history notes available, and there are fewer than 100 historical skins and skeletons in existence," reads the La Brea Tar Pits description of the bear. "As a result, fossils provide an important baseline for understanding the ecology, abundance, and uniqueness of this animal. "
Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him atnpadilla@usatodayco.com, follow him on X @1NoePadillaor on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.Sign up for theTODAY Californian newsletteror follow us on Facebook atTODAY Californian.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:California bill would create 'roadmap' to reintroduce grizzly bears
