The Alberta government has reported a notable 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 hunted down in Alberta, with 11 of them being killed within the past three and a half months, primarily due to livestock predation.
Since the initiation of the program back in June 2024, a total of 14 grizzly bears have been taken out by authorized hunters, with only one bear killed in 2025. The province’s “problem wildlife” responders, comprising qualified Alberta-based hunters selected for the program, are called upon when deemed necessary to eliminate grizzly bears in specific situations.
The Alberta Ministry of Forestry and Parks stated that their wildlife management approach is science-driven, focusing on public safety, conflict reduction, and grizzly bear population recovery. Despite not disclosing specific details on the recent killings, the province clarified that all grizzly bear deaths through the program occurred outside designated recovery areas.
Grizzly bears were classified as a threatened species by the Alberta government in 2010. The ministry emphasized that the province’s management of grizzly bears adheres to provincial guidelines, considering factors such as attacks on livestock, pets, or humans when deciding how to handle incidents. The province highlighted an average of 11 grizzly bears being lethally removed annually from 2021 to 2025.
The province mentioned that hunting grizzlies has been prohibited in Alberta since 2006, except for Indigenous hunters harvesting for subsistence or cultural reasons. The removal of grizzly bears via the Wildlife Management Responder Network is distinct from hunting, as authorizations are granted on a case-by-case basis rather than through tags.
While the number of grizzlies taken down through the wildlife responder program has risen, the province noted that the overall human-caused bear mortality in 2026 is lower than usual. The government asserted that no bear lethally removed in 2026 hindered recovery objectives, indicating that Alberta is making progress in achieving recovery goals by employing proactive management strategies where necessary.
Most grizzly bear removals through the program have occurred in southwestern Alberta, an area with the highest grizzly bear population density in the province. The province highlighted the need for effective wildlife coexistence measures in areas where grizzly bear ranges intersect with human-inhabited regions, such as ranches and livestock operations.
Efforts are being made to manage the situation effectively through coexistence programs, conflict mitigation measures, population monitoring, and when required, lethal removals. In 2024, the provincial government announced a $700,000 investment over five years to safeguard rural properties in southwestern Alberta from large carnivores, including grizzlies, by implementing measures like electric fencing and removing dead stock. The current grizzly bear population in Alberta is estimated to be around 1,000, although a provincial population study has not been conducted since 2018.
