The Alberta government has reported a significant increase in the number of grizzly bears hunted by authorized hunters in recent months. According to the Alberta Wildlife Management Responder Network, 13 grizzly bears have been killed this year, with 11 of them being hunted in the past three-and-a-half months, primarily due to livestock predation. Since the program started in June 2024, a total of 14 grizzly bears have been hunted by authorized hunters, with only one bear killed in 2025.
The province’s “problem wildlife” responders, comprised of qualified hunters selected for the program, are called upon by the government to hunt grizzly bears when necessary. Alberta’s Forestry and Parks Ministry emphasized that their wildlife management strategies prioritize public safety, conflict reduction, and grizzly bear population recovery efforts based on scientific guidance.
Grizzly bears were classified as a threatened species by the Alberta government in 2010, leading to provincial guidelines for managing these animals, considering factors like livestock, pet, or human attacks. The province highlighted that an average of 11 grizzly bears were lethally removed annually between 2021 and 2025. Hunting grizzlies in Alberta has been prohibited since 2006, except for Indigenous hunting for cultural or subsistence purposes. The Wildlife Management Responder Network’s grizzly bear removal is not considered hunting, as authorizations are granted on a case-by-case basis rather than through tags.
While the number of grizzlies hunted through the wildlife responder program has increased, the overall human-caused bear mortality in 2026 is lower than usual. The province assured that human-caused bear deaths have not impeded the recovery objectives for the grizzly bear population. Alberta emphasized that its proactive management strategies are aimed at achieving recovery goals and addressing conflicts in areas with higher bear activity.
Most of the grizzly bear hunt incidents occurred in southwestern Alberta, an area known for its dense grizzly bear population. Wildlife biologist Andrea Morehouse highlighted the challenges faced by rural communities due to the coexistence of grizzly bears. Jeff Bectell, co-ordinator of the Carnivores and Communities Program in the Waterton Biosphere Region, stressed the importance of effective wildlife coexistence measures in areas where human activities intersect with grizzly bear habitats.
The provincial government pledged $700,000 over five years to enhance measures for keeping large carnivores away from rural properties in southwestern Alberta. Despite estimates suggesting around 1,000 grizzlies in Alberta currently, the last provincial grizzly bear population study was conducted in 2018.