Wildlife Protection

Bear warning sign in Glacier National Park, 1958

NPS Photo / Jack E. Boucher

It takes more than fences.

National parks provide core habitat for bears and many other species, yet wildlife protection involves more than simply designating an area as “protected.” Within parks, managers must ensure the quality of the habitat, using habitat restoration techniques, and protect against ongoing threats. Managers rely on cutting edge conservation research to address these threats. The National Park Service is also extending these activities outside of parks through partnerships that protect conservation landscapes used by bears. Managers focus on several important areas to protect bears:

• Ensuring healthy populations
• Responding to environmental change
• Managing human-bear interactions