In recent months, the number of grizzly bears legally hunted by hunters authorized by the Alberta government has significantly increased. The Alberta Wildlife Management Responder Network reported a total of 13 grizzly bears killed this year, with 11 of them taken down in the past three and a half months, primarily due to livestock predation.
Since its establishment in June 2024, the program has seen a total of 14 grizzly bears hunted by authorized individuals, with only one bear taken down in 2025. The “problem wildlife” responders, comprised of qualified Alberta hunters selected for the initiative, are called upon by the province when deemed necessary to remove grizzly bears.
The Alberta Ministry of Forestry and Parks emphasized that their wildlife management strategies are science-based, aiming to ensure public safety, minimize conflicts, and aid in the recovery of grizzly bear populations. The province clarified that all grizzly bear deaths under the program occurred outside designated recovery areas.
Grizzly bears were classified as a threatened species in Alberta back in 2010. The ministry explained that the management of grizzly bears adheres to provincial guidelines, considering factors like attacks on livestock, pets, or humans when determining responses to incidents.
Despite the increasing number of grizzly bears removed through the Wildlife Management Responder Network, the province highlighted that the overall human-caused bear mortality in 2026 is lower than usual. The government asserted that their grizzly bear management plan is successfully meeting recovery objectives and taking proactive measures where conflicts are more prevalent.
In southwestern Alberta, where the majority of grizzly bear removals occurred, researchers have identified a high population density of grizzly bears. This region is part of a larger international bear population extending into British Columbia and Montana, posing challenges for rural communities in terms of coexistence with wildlife.
Effective wildlife coexistence measures, including population monitoring and conflict mitigation programs, are essential for managing interactions between humans and grizzly bears. The provincial government has allocated funds to support initiatives that enhance coexistence and prevent conflicts with large carnivores in rural areas of southwestern Alberta.
While the province estimates there are around 1,000 grizzly bears in Alberta presently, there has been no recent provincial study on the grizzly bear population since 2018.