Ghost Grizzlies: Does the Great Bear Still Haunt Colorado?

by David Petersen

By 1952 it was thought the grizzly bear had been wiped out in Colorado, pushed to oblivion by predator-phobic sheep ranchers and government trappers. Even so, through the mid-1900s, ghostly stories of grizzly sightings continued to haunt remote corners of the dark-timbered San Juan Mountains in the southern-most part of the state. Then, one spooky September evening in 1979, a flesh-and-blood grizzly sow was surprised on its daybed in the South San Juans by a bowhunter ... and the rest, as they say, is history. Or is it? As author and veteran outdoorsman David Petersen takes us along on his quest for evidence of "the next 'last' Colorado grizzly," we find ourselves enjoying a masterful mystery unfolding, character by adventure, page by riveting page. Although Ghost Grizzlies is set in Colorado, it stands as a timeless metaphor for every wild place and creature that finds itself under the gun of human encroachment still today. This revised 3rd edition has a new cover, 12 new pages of b/w photos, and updates.

Genres: Nonfiction, Natural History, Animals

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

There is more than one author with this name.

Reviews

[Luke Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book spellbinding and fascinating. From the deep, sad, historic summaries of Colorado’s seemingly uncomfortable relationship with the grizzly - to its potential lingering presence, this book leaves no stone unturned in its exploration of the topic.

I loved that this wasn’t idealistic prose - but instead told by someone who lives and hunts in the country they’re talking about. It shows in the vivid and awe inspiring descriptions and heartfelt passion for Colorado wildlife.

[River James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and sad what we did to make the mountains safe for cows.

[Bev DeVore-Wedding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history of grizzlies in the San Juans of Colorado.

[Steven Howes · Rating 4 out of 5]

In many ways, this book turned out to be much more than a description of the search for remaining grizzly bears in southwestern Colorado wilderness areas. It also describes in some detail the natural history of grizzly bears and how the species has been managed (if one can call it that) and hunted over the years. It also describes how government policy makers have often yielded to pressure from special interest groups and have neglected their own biologists' advice when attempting to manage black bears and to protect any grizzlies that may remain.

The last documented grizzly kill in Colorado occurred in 1979. The last credible sighting occurred in 1995. Others have seen bears thought to be grizzlies or have seen sign (scat, hair, diggings, claw marks) consistent with grizzly bear activity but with no definitive proof.

It is the author's contention that a remnant population of grizzly bears still exists in the southern San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Certainly, suitable habitat does exist. This book describes his various attempts at finding the elusive bears in places where they have either been seen of killed in the past. His descriptions of the landscapes he travels are extraordinary in my opinion.

However a large part of the book includes discussion of the potential and perhaps unintended consequences to the bears themselves should a remnant population be found. The author presents his case for what should transpire if grizzlies are found but then has second thoughts. It is obvious the author has a passion for grizzly bear preservation. One needs to read the book to see what he eventually decides is the best approach.

If you think wildlife management is strictly a scientific endeavor, this book will help to dispel that notion.

[David Corleto-Bales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent wildlife book, this one about the mystery concerning whether or not the grizzly bear still lives in a remote part of the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, just north of the New Mexico state line. Officially declared extinct in Colorado in 1952, an elderly sow grizzly attacked a bow hunter in the San Juans in 1979 and was killed, proving that it was at least possible for what biologists call a "fossil" population of animals to still be hanging on. Petersen tracks down the hunters who killed the "last" grizzlies in '52 and '79, retraces their steps through the mountains and explores every possible shred of evidence to prove or disprove the existence of the last group of Southwest Grizzlies in the United States; (there could be some grizzlies in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico). Again, the subject of "what is wilderness?" comes up here as does the disgust that I feel for wildlife "management", which so often benefits only hunters; the moose, for example, was introduced to the Colorado Rockies in the 1970s not as a reintroduction of a vanished species, (the moose never lived in Colorado) but as a game species. That's revolting, but typical of wildlife management!

[Michael Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite non-fiction books. It's depressing as hell, but then again the book chronicles the disappearance of America's most majestic animal.

Also, the book is not tainted by the antiquated and hokey "hunter mysticism" that plagues other books by hunters. Let's be honest, there are too many roads, too many people, and too much technology now for hunting to be fair.

And after all, it was hunters, trappers, and government bounties that killed off the great Colorado grizzlies. And right now, hunters are gearing up to remove grizzly bears from endangered species protection in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Sadly, the mistakes chronicled in this book seem to be repeating themselves elsewhere. As long as we have the mindset that the apex goal of species restoration is a hunting season, this will always be so.

The book also contains interesting images, one of them devastating: a photo of the last Colorado grizzly (killed by a hunter...as usual) resting its enormous head on its paw upon a log.

Ghost Grizzlies is a must read.

[Js · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those who are interested in the future of wildlife in Colorado would do well to read this book.
Peterson makes a solid case for the possibilities of ursus arctus in the Southern Rockies. If they remain, they exist in the vast wilderness complex of the Weminuche and South San Juan. That isolation is all that has saved them.
Meanwhile, current attempts to parcel more wilderness areas out of the few remaining roadless areas left in the State, are shouted down in a fury of vitriolic right wing "newspeak" about "Federal land grabs" and undermining "freedom."
Amazingly, many of those opposed to increasing the area of protected wilderness in Colorado are hunters. Habitat fragmentation is not only bad for bears, but for elk and deer.
Without habitat protection, it is probably that in twenty years, another writer will be asking if elk survive in the reaches that man has left alone.

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this book, I believe grizzlies were in Colorado until the early 1990s even though many believe the last one was shot in the late 70s. Interesting if you like bears. If not, probably not so interesting.

[Giulio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is convincing that grizzles were present in Colorado up until the 1990's. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever set foot outside in Colorado, especially if you go into the wilderness.

[Tom Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tantalizing evidence that grizzlies roamed Colorado's southern wilds later than the lat confirmed encounter. Plus a lot more, with good writing.