<P> In September 2007, a hunter produced evidence of one bear in the Selway - Bitterroot Wilderness ecosystem, by killing a male grizzly bear there . In the North Cascades ecosystem of northern Washington, grizzly bear populations are estimated to be less than 20 bears . One sighting of a grizzly bear in 2010 has been recorded . There has been no confirmed sighting of a grizzly in Colorado since 1979 . </P> <P> Other provinces and the United States may use a combination of methods for population estimates . Therefore, it is difficult to say precisely what methods were used to produce total population estimates for Canada and North America, as they were likely developed from a variety of studies . The grizzly bear currently has legal protection in Mexico, European countries, some areas of Canada and in the United States . However, it is expected that repopulating its former range will be a slow process, due to a variety of reasons including the bear's slow reproductive habits and the effects of reintroducing such a large animal to areas prized for agriculture and livestock . Competition with other predators and predation on cubs are other possible limiting factors for grizzly bear recovery, though grizzly bears also benefit from scavenged carcasses from predators as an easy food source when other food sources decline . There are currently about 55,000 wild grizzly bears total located throughout North America, most of which reside in Alaska . </P> <P> Grizzly bears hibernate for 5--7 months each year except where the climate is warm, as the California grizzly did not hibernate . During this time, female grizzly bears give birth to their offspring, who then consume milk from their mother and gain strength for the remainder of the hibernation period . To prepare for hibernation, grizzlies must prepare a den, and consume an immense amount of food as they do not eat during hibernation . Grizzly bears do not defecate or urinate throughout the entire hibernation period . The male grizzly bear's hibernation ends in early to mid-March, while females emerge in April or early May . </P> <P> In preparation for winter, bears can gain approximately 180 kg (400 lb), during a period of hyperphagia, before going into hibernation . The bear often waits for a substantial snowstorm before it enters its den: such behavior lessens the chances predators will find the den . The dens are typically at elevations above 1,800 m (5,900 ft) on north - facing slopes . There is some debate amongst professionals as to whether grizzly bears technically hibernate: much of this debate revolves around body temperature and the ability of the bears to move around during hibernation on occasion . Grizzly bears can "partially" recycle their body wastes during this period . Although inland or Rocky Mountain grizzlies spend nearly half of their life in dens, coastal grizzlies with better access to food sources spend less time in dens . In some areas where food is very plentiful year round, grizzly bears skip hibernation altogether . </P>

How much fish does a grizzly bear eat