Quick Answer
There are a handful of U.S. states with no known populations of wild bears, including Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, and Rhode Island. However, it’s possible for a wandering bear to be spotted in most states on very rare occasions. The states with resident bear populations are Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and parts of northern Mexico.
Bears in the United States
There are three species of bears found across North America:
- Black bear (Ursus americanus)
- Brown bear (Ursus arctos), including the grizzly bear and Kodiak bear
- Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
Of these, only the black bear and grizzly bear are found in the lower 48 states. Polar bears are restricted to Alaska.
The historic range of North American bears covered most of the United States. However, habitat loss, overhunting, and extermination campaigns have greatly reduced their populations and range over the past two centuries. Today, bears are completely absent across large areas of the central and eastern United States.
States with No Bear Populations
According to wildlife agencies, there are no current breeding populations of wild bears in the following states:
- Delaware
- Florida
- Louisiana
- Rhode Island
Bears are sometimes spotted in these states, but these sightings likely represent wandering individuals from other populations, escaped captives, or released pets. There is no evidence of sustainable resident bear populations.
States with Bear Populations
The states known to have breeding black bear populations within their borders are:
- Alaska
- Washington
- Oregon
- California
- Idaho
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Colorado
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- New York
- Vermont
- New Hampshire
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Georgia
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Maryland
Grizzly bears currently have breeding populations in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming. Small populations of grizzlies also persist in parts of Colorado and California.
In northern Mexico, black bears occupy mountainous areas from the U.S. border south to central Mexico. Grizzly bears are considered extinct in Mexico.
Bear Populations by State
Here is more detailed information on the bear species found in each state with resident bear populations:
Alaska
Alaska is home to healthy populations of both black and brown bears. An estimated 100,000 black bears and 30,000 brown bears live in Alaska. Brown bear subspecies include the coastal brown bear and grizzly bear. Polar bears are also found along Alaska’s northern coastline and offshore islands.
Washington
Washington has 25,000-30,000 black bears statewide. No grizzly bears currently live in Washington, although there are occasional sightings of wanderers from Idaho and British Columbia.
Oregon
Oregon has about 25,000-30,000 black bears. A small population of around 50 grizzly bears lives in the northern part of the state near the Idaho border.
California
An estimated 35,000 black bears live in California. Grizzly bears were once abundant but were extirpated. Today there is a tiny population of around 30 grizzlies in the northern Cascades and Sierra Nevada.
Idaho
Idaho is home to 23,000-27,000 black bears and a stable population of about 700 grizzlies. Most grizzlies are found in the panhandle and central mountain regions.
Montana
Montana has an estimated 18,000 black bears and 1,000 grizzly bears statewide. Grizzly populations are concentrated in the northwestern part of the state in and around Glacier National Park.
Wyoming
Wyoming is home to around 6,000-8,000 black bears. An estimated 600-700 grizzlies inhabit the northwest corner of the state in Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas.
Colorado
Colorado has the largest black bear population in the Rocky Mountains, with estimates around 17,000-20,000 statewide. A small number of grizzly bears (less than 40) persist in remote areas of north-central Colorado.
Arizona
Arizona has around 3,000-3,500 black bears scattered across the central and eastern parts of the state. Grizzly bears are considered extirpated.
New Mexico
New Mexico is home to 5,000-6,000 black bears, mostly in mountainous regions. The last confirmed grizzly bear was killed in the state in 1931.
Minnesota
Minnesota has 12,000-15,000 black bears statewide. No grizzly bears are found in Minnesota.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s black bear population is around 24,000. Grizzly bears were historically present but were extirpated by the early 1900s.
Michigan
Michigan has about 10,000-12,000 black bears. Most are found in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula. No grizzly bears are present.
New York
Upstate New York has a population of 6,000-8,000 black bears. Black bears are absent from Long Island and New York City. Grizzly bears were eliminated from the state by the mid 1800s.
Vermont
Vermont has around 5,000-6,000 black bears statewide. No grizzly bears are present.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s bear population is estimated at 4,800-5,000 black bears. Grizzly bears were extirpated long ago.
Maine
Maine has the largest black bear population in the eastern United States at around 35,000. Grizzly bears disappeared from Maine in the late 1800s.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts has a population of 4,500 black bears, mostly in western parts of the state. Grizzly bears have been absent for over 200 years.
Connecticut
Connecticut’s bear population is around 700-800 bears. They are found mostly in the northwestern hills. Grizzly bears were eliminated centuries ago.
North Carolina
North Carolina has a growing population of 6,000-8,000 black bears statewide. Most are found in the mountains and foothills of the western part of the state. Grizzly bears disappeared in the late 1700s.
South Carolina
South Carolina is home to a small but increasing black bear population of around 1,000 bears in the mountain regions. Grizzly bears were eliminated several hundred years ago.
Georgia
Georgia has around 5,100 black bears, primarily in the mountainous northern part of the state. Grizzly bears disappeared from Georgia by the early 1800s.
Tennessee
Tennessee’s black bear population is estimated at around 6,000 statewide. Bears are found across the state but are concentrated in the Smoky Mountains. Grizzly bears were wiped out centuries ago.
Virginia
Virginia has around 17,000 black bears statewide, with the largest populations in Shenandoah National Park and the mountains of southwestern Virginia. Grizzly bears disappeared from Virginia in the late 1700s.
West Virginia
West Virginia is home to around 10,000-12,000 black bears, mostly in forested mountain areas. Grizzly bears were eliminated in the 1800s.
Ohio
Ohio has a small black bear population of 50-100, centered in the southeastern hill country. Grizzly bears were extirpated long ago.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has around 18,000 black bears, primarily in mountainous, forested areas. Grizzly bears disappeared from the state by the late 1800s.
Maryland
Maryland’s bear population is around 300-500 in the far western part of the state. Grizzly bears have been absent for centuries.
Changes in Bear Populations
Bear populations have undergone significant changes and redistributions over the past century:
- Grizzly bears were eliminated from 98% of their historic range in the lower 48 states. They now occupy only 2% of their original habitat.
- Black bears were nearly wiped out in many eastern states but have rebounded and expanded their range since the 1960s-70s.
- Black bear numbers have increased substantially in most states due to protection, regulated hunting, and forest regrowth.
- A few small grizzly bear populations have become reestablished in areas where they were exterminated, like California’s Sierra Nevada.
- Improved management and conservation practices have allowed bears to recover from historic lows and return to parts of their former range.
Bear Sightings in States with No Populations
It is possible for bears to be sighted in states where there are not normally resident populations. These cases usually represent:
- Dispersing juveniles wandering far outside normal bear range
- Escaped captive bears from zoos or private facilities
- Bears transported and illegally released outside their native range
- Misidentification of other wildlife species
While intriguing, these sporadic bear sightings do not indicate the presence of a breeding population in that state. Without suitable habitat, abundant food sources, and prospective mates, lone wandering bears are unlikely to colonize new areas very often.
Examples of Bear Sightings
- In 2019, a black bear was spotted multiple times in Kansas, far from any breeding populations.
- In 2021, a black bear was seen repeatedly in Kettleman City, California – the first documented sighting in that area of the state.
- Also in 2021, a black bear was tranquilized in a tree near the St. Louis Gateway Arch in downtown Missouri.
- In 2020, a black bear was spotted on a military base in central Kentucky.
- In 2016, a black bear was struck and killed by a vehicle on a Connecticut highway.
These cases highlight how far bears may travel outside of their core habitat but do not indicate expanding populations in those states.
Conclusion
In summary, a small number of U.S. states have no current breeding populations of wild bears, including Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, and Rhode Island. However, black bears and grizzly bears have stable and growing populations across much of the western, northeastern, and southeastern United States. Compared to a century ago, bear numbers are increasing and their range expanding thanks to improved management practices and conservation efforts. While bear sightings sometimes occur outside of regular bear range, these transient individuals are unlikely to establish new breeding populations far from suitable habitat. With continued wildlife management and forest conservation, North America’s remaining bears populations should remain resilient into the future.