More than a year since the Alberta government introduced a team of hunters to deal with “problem” grizzlies, the province has reported the killing of one bear. According to Ministry of Forestry and Parks press secretary Michael Plenits, four grizzly responders have been involved in addressing conflicts, resulting in the lethal removal of one bear due to livestock predation.
During a legislative session, Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen confirmed the killing of a bear in mid-June near Twin Butte in southern Alberta. Grizzly bear hunting has been prohibited in Alberta since 2006, except for specific cases under the Wildlife Management Responder Network program initiated in June 2024.
The Wildlife Management Responder Network comprises selected qualified hunters who are called upon when the province determines the necessity to eliminate a grizzly bear. While the program is not classified as a bear hunt, participants are allowed to keep the bear’s meat, hide, and other parts except for the gallbladder after a successful operation.
Retired Alberta Fish and Wildlife officer John Clarke emphasized the importance of bear awareness to prevent conflicts and highlighted the government’s financial support in implementing preventive measures like electric fences and livestock management to deter bears from human-populated areas.
Clarke expressed concerns about the potential misidentification of bears by hunters and noted the shift in responsibility from Fish and Wildlife officers to public members in shooting “problem” grizzlies. Minister Loewen acknowledged the success of the grizzly bear recovery program but raised concerns over increasing negative interactions between grizzlies and humans, prompting the need for the Wildlife Management Responder Network.
The province’s grizzly bear population has grown from around 800 to over 1,150, leading to their movement into more populated regions, resulting in livestock attacks. Mountain View Bear Smart has documented several instances of grizzly bear encounters with landowners, with recent incidents including a goat being killed on October 16.
The province’s recovery plan focuses on habitat restoration in areas like Kananaskis Country and promotes co-existence through education initiatives such as Bear Smart.