Each of the states of the United States of America has its own emblems, varying from Alaska's land mammal, the moose, to Colorado's big horn sheep. The state bear of California is the mighty grizzly bear, but there are actually no grizzlies left in California. So why is it that the state chooses this impressively fierce bear as one of its state symbols.
Grizzlies actually dwelt in California in abundant numbers though, up until the second half of the 19th century. During the days when California was part of America's western frontier, anyone who wandered in the wilderness there stood a good chance of encountering a grizzly in its natural environment. When gold was discovered in California in the 1840s though, that situation changed, with many thousands of people flocking to the area from all across the world.
This increased the chance for conflict between people and the grizzly, which tended to live in great numbers on the slopes of California's lower mountains and in its valleys. Some scientists speculate that the grizzly existed in such numbers that there were more here than in any other part of North America. The last recorded specimen of this mighty animal in this part of the country was shot in Tulare County in 1922 though.
Some of the grizzlies which lived in California before the last one was killed were huge too, with some huge specimens being recorded before the species finally became extinct in this part of the country. The largest recorded grizzly in California was killed in 1866, in Valley Center. This massive animal weighed in at a colossal 2,200 pounds, a genuine monster of a grizzly.
The grizzlies which lived in California belonged to their own sub-species, which became known as the Californian Golden Bear, or Ursus arctos californicus in scientific terms. Settlers shot and killed the animal wherever they found it, as it posed a danger to agriculture and the lives of settlers. While many may have loved the animal for its wild qualities, there were many more who thought it a dangerous nuisance.
Although many people feared and hated the animal, there were clearly many others who found much to admire in the animal's size, fierceness and sheer combativeness. This saw the grizzly first used as a symbol of California in 1846, when a minor revolt saw some of the Spanish population in the area come into conflict with the state officials. The grizzly was used as an emblem on the Californian flag which was used in this event, later referred to by historians as the 'Bear Flag Revolt'.
It was not until 1911 though that the grizzly was officially incorporated onto the state flag of California. The 19th century flag with its grizzly emblem had been used as the emblem of the California Republic when it became one of the states of Union in 1850 though. Just eleven years after the grizzly symbol became official though, the last grizzly would be shot in California.
The state bear of California is the great grizzly, which does not actually live there any more, expect as stuffed examples in the glass cases of museums. If you go to California looking to find bears, then it is not grizzlies that you will find now. Instead, the much smaller, less aggressive black bear wanders the hills and valleys of California nowadays.
Grizzlies actually dwelt in California in abundant numbers though, up until the second half of the 19th century. During the days when California was part of America's western frontier, anyone who wandered in the wilderness there stood a good chance of encountering a grizzly in its natural environment. When gold was discovered in California in the 1840s though, that situation changed, with many thousands of people flocking to the area from all across the world.
This increased the chance for conflict between people and the grizzly, which tended to live in great numbers on the slopes of California's lower mountains and in its valleys. Some scientists speculate that the grizzly existed in such numbers that there were more here than in any other part of North America. The last recorded specimen of this mighty animal in this part of the country was shot in Tulare County in 1922 though.
Some of the grizzlies which lived in California before the last one was killed were huge too, with some huge specimens being recorded before the species finally became extinct in this part of the country. The largest recorded grizzly in California was killed in 1866, in Valley Center. This massive animal weighed in at a colossal 2,200 pounds, a genuine monster of a grizzly.
The grizzlies which lived in California belonged to their own sub-species, which became known as the Californian Golden Bear, or Ursus arctos californicus in scientific terms. Settlers shot and killed the animal wherever they found it, as it posed a danger to agriculture and the lives of settlers. While many may have loved the animal for its wild qualities, there were many more who thought it a dangerous nuisance.
Although many people feared and hated the animal, there were clearly many others who found much to admire in the animal's size, fierceness and sheer combativeness. This saw the grizzly first used as a symbol of California in 1846, when a minor revolt saw some of the Spanish population in the area come into conflict with the state officials. The grizzly was used as an emblem on the Californian flag which was used in this event, later referred to by historians as the 'Bear Flag Revolt'.
It was not until 1911 though that the grizzly was officially incorporated onto the state flag of California. The 19th century flag with its grizzly emblem had been used as the emblem of the California Republic when it became one of the states of Union in 1850 though. Just eleven years after the grizzly symbol became official though, the last grizzly would be shot in California.
The state bear of California is the great grizzly, which does not actually live there any more, expect as stuffed examples in the glass cases of museums. If you go to California looking to find bears, then it is not grizzlies that you will find now. Instead, the much smaller, less aggressive black bear wanders the hills and valleys of California nowadays.
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