The "last" Colorado grizzly was killed in 1979 but unconfirmed sightings have persisted yearly since then. If grizzlies still exist in Colorado they would probably be the last vestige of a grizzly subspecies and the last grizzly this far south on the entire continent. If the continued persistence of the grizzly in Colorado can be confirmed the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Federal Govt. would be obligated to protect the bear (setting up additional wilderness areas