In central Alberta, officials from Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services captured and euthanized a grizzly bear near Red Lodge Provincial Park, southwest of Red Deer. The bear was identified as the same one that had attempted to access a chicken coop on a nearby property on June 3. Following provincial grizzly bear response guidelines and directives from Forestry and Parks wildlife management officials, the decision was made to euthanize the bear on the same day. The province mentioned that the grizzly bear carcass was given to an Indigenous person for traditional purposes.
Bear encounters in central Alberta have been on the rise, according to Kim Titchener, the founder of Bear Safety & More. She highlighted the increasing frequency of bear incidents in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and Prairie environments, noting the reemergence of grizzly bears in habitats where they once resided, now confronted with human populations. Titchener referenced fatal grizzly attacks near Water Valley and Waiparous in 2021, as well as a grizzly mauling incident near Madden in 2024, where DNA testing linked the bear to a previous fatal attack.
Titchener emphasized the importance of precautions for residents living in bear-prone areas, such as using electric fencing around chicken coops, removing bird feeders, securing compost, and not leaving dog food outside. She advocated for a shift in mindset towards coexisting with grizzly bears in outskirt habitats and implementing sustainable management strategies rather than resorting to lethal measures.
The decision to euthanize the grizzly bear was made in accordance with established provincial guidelines for grizzly bear responses, considering factors like the bear’s age, presence of cubs, and problematic behavior towards humans, livestock, or pets. Grizzly bears have been listed as a threatened species in Alberta since 2010, with hunting prohibited since 2006, except for Indigenous harvesting and controlled removal of problem bears through the Wildlife Management Responder Network.
The Alberta government estimates the grizzly bear population to be over 1,150 bears, with the last provincial study on grizzly numbers conducted in 2018. The grizzly bear recovery plan focuses on habitat protection, minimizing human-wildlife conflicts, reducing human-caused bear mortality, and promoting bear coexistence through BearSmart programs statewide.
