In central Alberta, authorities have reported trapping and euthanizing a grizzly bear near Red Lodge Provincial Park, following its unsuccessful attempt to access a chicken coop on a neighboring property. The bear was put down on the same day based on provincial guidelines, with its carcass being given to an Indigenous individual for traditional use.
The region has witnessed a surge in bear encounters, particularly in areas like the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and Prairie environments, according to Kim Titchener, the founder of Bear Safety & More. She highlighted the increasing conflicts as grizzly bears move into territories where human populations reside, citing fatal attacks near Water Valley and Waiparous in 2021.
Titchener emphasized the need for precautions in bear-prone areas, such as using electric fencing around chicken coops and removing attractants like bird feeders and unsecured compost. She advocated for a shift in mindset towards coexisting with grizzly bears in outskirt habitats and implementing sustainable management strategies.
Grizzly bears have been listed as a threatened species in Alberta since 2010, with hunting banned since 2006 except for Indigenous subsistence or cultural purposes. The province’s Wildlife Management Responder Network allows for the selective killing of problematic bears on a case-by-case basis.
Although the latest estimate puts Alberta’s grizzly bear population at over 1,150, there hasn’t been a recent provincial study on grizzly numbers. The recovery plan focuses on habitat protection, minimizing human-wildlife conflicts, and promoting bear awareness through programs like BearSmart.