As top predators, grizzlies are especially vulnerable to disturbances in their habitat and food supply and thus serve as an excellent indicator species for the "wildness" and the overall health of the coastal ecosystem. Grizzly bears are also an excellent umbrella species because they require large home ranges.

Grizzlies thrive in low-elevation habitats, and depend on old growth trees for denning and bedding sites, for security and for the abundant food supply contained in the rich understory. They are most often found on river banks (i.e. riparian areas) or in estuaries. Grizzlies fare poorly in areas with many roads, which fragment habitat and facilitate access by hunters, poachers and other traffic. The CAD team looked for areas with low road density (defined as less than 0.35 km of road in each km2) and which also possessed grizzly-friendly elements such as estuaries, old growth forests and, especially, salmon.

Indeed, so inextricably linked are salmon and grizzlies that habitats for the two can be combined. Together, these two zones comprise 7.9% of the study areas or 370 thousand hectares.

On the map, Core Brizzly Bear/Salmon Habitats are shown either in dark green (for intact habitats) or light green (for restoration habitats).