The Alberta government has reported a notable increase in the number of grizzly bears killed by hunters under its Wildlife Management Responder Network recently. Specifically, 13 grizzly bears have been hunted down in Alberta this year, with 11 of them being killed in the last three-and-a-half months due to livestock predation. Since the program’s initiation in June 2024, a total of 14 grizzly bears have been taken down by authorized hunters, with only one recorded kill in 2025.
The province’s team of “problem wildlife” responders comprises skilled Alberta hunters selected for the program. These hunters are called upon by the province to eliminate grizzly bears when necessary. The Alberta Ministry of Forestry and Parks emphasized that its wildlife management strategies prioritize public safety, conflict reduction, and grizzly bear population recovery through science-based methods.
Grizzly bears were classified as a threatened species by the Alberta government in 2010. The Ministry of Forestry and Parks stated that management decisions regarding grizzly bears are based on provincial guidelines, considering factors like attacks on livestock, pets, or humans. The province highlighted that an annual average of 11 grizzly bears were lethally removed between 2021 and 2025.
Although hunting grizzlies has been prohibited in Alberta since 2006, exceptions are made for Indigenous hunters for subsistence or cultural needs. The removal of grizzlies through the Wildlife Management Responder Network is not classified as hunting, as authorizations are granted case by case rather than through tags. The province clarified that responders may keep the bear’s meat, hide, and all parts except the gallbladder.
While the number of grizzly bear killings under the wildlife responder program has risen, the province stated that the overall human-caused bear mortality in 2026 is relatively low compared to previous years. The province reiterated its commitment to achieving grizzly bear recovery goals and managing conflicts effectively where necessary.
The majority of grizzly bear incidents occurred in southwestern Alberta, an area with a high grizzly bear population density. Wildlife biologist Andrea Morehouse noted that this region is part of a broader international bear population extending into British Columbia and Montana. The province emphasized the importance of implementing effective wildlife coexistence measures in areas where grizzly bear habitats intersect with human activities.
Various stakeholders, including rural municipalities and conservation groups, have called for science-based approaches and better wildlife management strategies to address the challenges posed by grizzly bears in Alberta. The provincial government has allocated funds for initiatives aimed at enhancing coexistence, conflict mitigation, and wildlife protection in regions prone to human-bear conflicts. Although an estimated 1,000 grizzlies inhabit Alberta presently, the last provincial grizzly bear population study was conducted in 2018.