Plan to return grizzlies to the North Cascades appears to be in hibernation

Plan to return grizzlies to the North Cascades appears to be in hibernation John Ryan August 21, 2025 / 6:05 pm

A federal plan to bring grizzly bears back to Washington's North Cascades appears to have gone into hibernation under the Trump administration.

Federal officials said there is no timeline for reintroducing any bears but declined to provide further details on the project approved under the Biden administration.

“While agencies made a decision in 2024 to restore grizzly bears to the North Cascades ecosystem, there is currently not a timeline for when translocations may begin,” North Cascades National Park spokesperson Katy Hooper said by email.

That sentiment was echoed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson Andrew Lavalle.

“No translocations have occurred and t