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An American Icon Under Threat

Why we support the continued protection of the grizzly bear

By Peak Design

December 2^nd, 2025

Back in 2018, Peak Design decided to do something we hadn’t done before: produce a short film. We called up our friend, Ben Moon, and pitched him on directing a piece about the legendary Doug Peacock, a Green Beret Vietnam Vet who found refuge in the wilderness and amongst grizzly bears upon his return from war. The experience changed Doug and he has spent the rest of his life fighting for the protection of grizzlies. The production of the film, Grizzly Country, left us at Peak Design deeply inspired by Doug, these incredible beasts, and the wilderness they call home.

While significant progress has been made over the last several decades, the fight to save the grizzlies is not over and 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year in determining their fate, which is why we are donating 15% of our Giving Tuesday sales to support Save the Yellowstone Grizzly.

Doug Peacock, Green Beret Vietnam Veteran

Doug Peacock in Yellowstone National Park

The filming of Grizzly Country

Few species capture the spirit of the American wilderness like the grizzly bear. Powerful, intelligent, and ecologically vital, grizzlies once roamed nearly the entire western United States. Yet by the mid-20th century, persecution and habitat loss had pushed them to the brink of extinction. Federal protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) saved this icon of wild America from disappearing entirely.

But now, some - specifically the states of Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana - are pushing for the removal of those protections. While we understand the drive to delist species no longer needing protection, we believe delisting grizzlies now would be dangerously premature. Grizzly bears may no longer be on the edge of extinction, but their recovery remains fragile, incomplete, and deeply dependent on continued federal safeguards.

Grizzlies have not reclaimed a fraction of their historic range. Today, they occupy less than five percent of their former territory, and most live in just two ecosystems: the Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Continental Divide. Their vastly diminished range and the lack of connectivity between populations threatens their long-term resilience. Genetic diversity is a critical defense against environmental changes. When populations are cut off, inbreeding reduces adaptability. Wildlife corridors are not yet fully established, and delisting would remove legal mechanisms that encourage coordinated conservation.

Climate change and the pressure from growing development in bear habitat are also having significant impacts on the grizzly populations. Key food sources like whitebark pine have been decimated due to climate change, all while human expansion fragments habitats. Losing their primary food source has forced bears to roam farther and into developed areas, increasing conflicts with humans often ending with the bear being killed. ESA protections provide tools to manage these conflicts proactively, emphasizing coexistence and habitat conservation.

Legal and scientific precedents also urge extreme caution when considering delisting. As recently as 2024, courts have struck down previous delisting attempts because state agencies failed to fully consider ecological complexities. State management plans often focus narrowly on numbers, not ecosystem health which is a critical consideration for the long term survival of grizzlies. Without federal protection, economic and political pressures could quickly undermine conservation gains.

The famous Mother Grizzly 399 who was killed in a vehicle collision in 2024. (Photo by Tom Mangelsen)

An American Icon Under Threat

Mother Grizzly 399 and her cubs. (Photo by Tom Mangelsen)

That said, we understand the complexities and challenges of living alongside a species like the grizzly bear. We’re grateful for our ranchers whose livelihoods depend on keeping their livestock safe. (We sponsored another film, Range Rider, that explores the challenges and opportunities of coexistence between ranchers and wolves.) But we must continue forging a path to coexistence - otherwise we risk losing not just the grizzlies but all the significant wildlife that give our American landscapes their magic.

The grizzly bear’s recovery is one of America’s great conservation stories, but it is still being written. Federal protections have worked. Removing them now would not be a reward for success; it would be an abandonment of responsibility. Keeping grizzlies listed ensures their future is guided by science, not politics.

And that’s why we are donating 15% of our Giving Tuesday sales to Save the Yellowstone Grizzly (SYG) - a key player in protecting grizzlies in the lower 48. SYG is preparing for a critical court case in 2026 that will determine whether grizzlies remain protected under the Endangered Species Act. This legal fight is the front line of grizzly conservation, and the outcome will determine their future. You can donate and learn more about their work here.

We also recommend you watch the film that continues to inspire us here at Peak Design, Grizzly Country.

An American Icon Under Threat

Footnotes

All grizzly photos by Tom Mangelsen.

FootNotes

All grizzly photos by Tom Mangelsen.

© 2026 Peak Design

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