The Alberta government has reported a significant increase in the number of grizzly bears killed by hunters sanctioned through the Wildlife Management Responder Network in recent months. This year, 13 grizzly bears have been killed, with 11 of them being hunted down in the last three-and-a-half months primarily due to livestock predation. Since its establishment in June 2024, the program has led to the killing of 14 grizzly bears by authorized hunters, with only one bear being killed in 2025.
Qualified hunters from Alberta make up the province’s pool of “problem wildlife” responders, selected through an application process. These hunters are called upon by the province to eliminate grizzly bears deemed as threats. The Ministry of Forestry and Parks stated that their wildlife management strategy is based on scientific guidance, prioritizing public safety, conflict reduction, and grizzly bear population recovery.
Grizzly bears were classified as a threatened species by the Government of Alberta in 2010. The province manages grizzly bears according to provincial guidelines, considering factors like attacks on livestock, pets, or humans when responding to incidents. An average of 11 grizzly bears were lethally removed annually from 2021 to 2025.
Although grizzly hunting has been prohibited in Alberta since 2006, exceptions are made for Indigenous hunters for subsistence or cultural reasons. The province clarified that the removal of grizzlies through the Wildlife Management Responder Network is not considered hunting, as authorizations are granted on a case-by-case basis rather than through tags.
Despite the rise in grizzly bear killings through the responder program, the province highlighted that the overall human-caused bear mortality in 2026 is lower than usual. The province emphasized that their management efforts align with recovery objectives and proactive measures are taken to address conflicts in areas with high grizzly bear activity.
Most of the grizzly bear deaths through the program occurred in southwestern Alberta, an area identified with the highest grizzly bear population density in the province. Effective wildlife coexistence measures are crucial for rural communities in these regions to mitigate conflicts. The province has invested in initiatives to support coexistence, conflict mitigation, and population monitoring in bear-inhabited areas to prevent conflicts with residents and livestock operations.