Grizzly bear (IMAGE) Frontiers Caption In the contiguous US, grizzly bears have been a protected species since the 1970s, which has led some populations to increase considerably and expand their range, reclaiming historic habitat. Credit Wesley Sarmento/Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Usage Restrictions Please credit creator License Original content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.