The Alberta government has reported a significant increase in the number of grizzly bears taken down by hunters under its Wildlife Management Responder Network in recent months. So far this year, 13 grizzly bears have been killed through the program, with 11 of those fatalities occurring within the last three-and-a-half months, primarily due to livestock predation.
Since the program’s establishment in June 2024, a total of 14 grizzly bears have been hunted under its authorization, with only one bear killed in 2025. The province’s pool of “problem wildlife” responders comprises qualified Alberta hunters selected for the initiative. When deemed necessary by the province, these hunters may be called upon to eliminate a grizzly bear.
The Alberta Ministry of Forestry and Parks emphasized that its wildlife management strategy is based on scientific principles and expert counsel, prioritizing public safety, conflict reduction, and the ongoing recovery of grizzly bear populations. The province clarified that all grizzly bear deaths sanctioned through the program have occurred outside designated recovery zones.
Grizzly bears were classified as a threatened species by the Alberta Government in 2010. The Ministry of Forestry and Parks explained that the management of grizzly bears adheres to provincial guidelines, considering factors like attacks on livestock, pets, or humans when determining the appropriate response to incidents. The province revealed that an average of 11 grizzly bears were lethally removed annually from 2021 to 2025.
Although grizzly hunting has been prohibited in Alberta since 2006, except for Indigenous hunting for subsistence or cultural purposes, the removal of grizzly bears through the Wildlife Management Responder Network is not categorized as hunting, as authorizations are granted on a case-by-case basis without tags. The province highlighted that similar to sport hunting, responders are permitted to keep the bear’s meat, hide, and other parts except for the gallbladder.
The government stated that its grizzly bear recovery plan is achieving its goals, with the human-caused bear mortality rate in 2026 being the second-lowest in Alberta since 2010. The province affirmed that none of the bears lethally removed in 2026 hindered the recovery objectives. It emphasized proactive management to address conflicts and achieve recovery targets, particularly in areas with pronounced conflict between agriculture and grizzly bear habitats.
Most of the grizzly bear killings through the program have occurred in southwestern Alberta, an area with the highest grizzly bear population density in the province, as indicated by research. The region’s wildlife biologist noted that the area hosts a substantial bear population extending into southeastern British Columbia and Montana, posing challenges primarily to rural communities.
Efforts to promote wildlife coexistence and mitigate conflicts in bear-inhabited regions were underscored as crucial by experts. Various measures, including coexistence programs, conflict mitigation strategies, population monitoring, and when necessary, lethal removals, were deemed essential for effective management. The government’s commitment to investing in initiatives to safeguard rural properties from large carnivores in southwestern Alberta, including grizzly bears, was reiterated.
Although approximately 1,000 grizzly bears are estimated to inhabit Alberta presently, there has not been a provincial grizzly bear population study since 2018.