Conservation groups are pushing back against recent requests by the Alberta government to reintroduce grizzly bear hunting after a 20-year hiatus, citing a lack of scientific justification. The Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) recently passed a resolution urging the government to implement a regulated grizzly bear hunt through a draw system. However, conservationists emphasize the importance of a science-based approach to managing grizzly bear populations.
The Alberta Wildlife Federation has indicated conditional support for a “limited harvest” of grizzly bears if it aligns with a comprehensive management plan. They emphasize the necessity of basing any regulated hunt on solid scientific evidence that ensures the sustainability of the grizzly bear population while addressing human safety and property protection needs.
The RMA’s call for a grizzly bear hunt was prompted by a reported increase in human-bear interactions in southwestern Alberta, including a grizzly bear attack on a fisherman near Cardston County last summer. Notably, the majority of RMA members, comprising over 60 rural Alberta counties and municipal districts, voted in favor of the resolution.
In response to these developments, Alberta Wilderness Association’s conservation specialist Ruiping Luo highlighted the lack of up-to-date population studies on grizzly bears in the region. Without recent data, the increased encounters may be due to factors like habitat loss from development or heightened human activity in bear territory rather than a surge in grizzly bear numbers.
Grizzly bears were designated a threatened species in Alberta in 2010, with the province estimating a population increase from around 800 to over 1,150 bears by 2024. While grizzly bear hunting has been prohibited in Alberta since 2006, exceptions exist for Indigenous hunters and approved individuals to address “problem” bears. The debate over grizzly bear management continues as stakeholders weigh the need for conservation and public safety against the potential impacts of hunting on the bear population.
The lack of recent grizzly bear population studies has raised concerns among experts like biologist Gordon Stenhouse, who emphasizes the importance of ongoing research to inform management decisions. Stenhouse suggests exploring cost-effective methods like collecting grizzly bear hair for DNA research, involving local communities in conservation efforts, and allocating resources to ensure the long-term viability of grizzly bear populations in Alberta.
