The Alberta government has seen a notable increase in the number of grizzly bears being hunted by authorized hunters in recent months. A total of 13 grizzly bears have been killed through Alberta’s Wildlife Management Responder Network this year, with 11 of them being taken down within the last three-and-a-half months, mainly due to livestock predation.
Since its establishment in June 2024, the program has resulted in the killing of 14 grizzly bears by hunters, with just one bear being hunted in 2025. The province selects qualified Albertan hunters as part of its “problem wildlife” responders, who are called upon to eliminate grizzly bears in specific situations deemed necessary by the government.
The Alberta Ministry of Forestry and Parks emphasized that their wildlife management strategy is based on scientific input and expert advice, focusing on public safety, conflict reduction, and the recovery of grizzly bear populations. Grizzly bear management in Alberta aims at a recovery objective, outlined in the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan.
Grizzly bears were classified as a threatened species by the Alberta government in 2010. The province manages grizzly bear populations according to guidelines that consider factors like attacks on livestock, pets, or humans when determining responses to incidents. The average annual removal of 11 grizzly bears from 2021 to 2025 is part of the province’s management approach.
While the number of grizzly bears hunted through the wildlife responder program has risen, the overall human-caused mortality of bears in 2026 is comparatively lower than in previous years. The province highlighted that human-caused bear mortality has not exceeded 3.5% of the estimated population since 2010, indicating progress in achieving recovery goals.
The majority of grizzly bear killings in the program have occurred in southwestern Alberta, an area known for its high grizzly bear population density. Effective wildlife coexistence measures are crucial in regions where grizzly habitat overlaps with agricultural activities to mitigate conflicts between bears and rural communities.
The Alberta government banned grizzly hunting in 2006, except for Indigenous hunters for subsistence or cultural reasons. Grizzly removal via the Wildlife Management Responder Network differs from a traditional hunt as authorizations are granted on a case-by-case basis without tags. The province continues to monitor and manage grizzly bear populations, with ongoing investments in coexistence and conflict mitigation programs.