About 80 percent of Canadian grizzlies are found in British Columbia and the Yukon. The remainder of the population is found in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. The Grizzly Bear has been completely extirpated from the Prairie provinces, where it was hunted to extermination. It includes members from universities and museums, provinces and territories, three non-government conservation organizations and four federal agencies. Currently, it has no legal mandate.
Extirpation means the species no longer exists in the wild in Canada, but occurs elsewhere.
Threatened means the species are likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed. Special Concern refers to species that have become particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events. Management plans will also be needed for species of special concern. These will be carried out with provincial and territorial governments, wildlife management boards, Aboriginal organizations, landowners, fishing interests, universities, industry and environmental groups. Once identified, critical habitat will be protected by conservation agreements, provincial or territorial legislation, or federal prohibitions.