The Alberta government has reported a notable increase in the number of grizzly bears killed by authorized hunters in recent months. As per the Alberta Wildlife Management Responder Network, 13 grizzly bears have been killed this year, with 11 of them being hunted in the last three-and-a-half months primarily due to livestock predation.
Since its establishment in June 2024, a total of 14 grizzly bears have been slain through the program, with only one bear hunted in 2025. The province’s pool of responders comprises qualified Albertan hunters selected for the program. When situations arise where a grizzly bear needs to be eliminated, these hunters may be called upon.
The Ministry of Forestry and Parks stated that their wildlife management approach is science-based, focusing on public safety, conflict reduction, and grizzly bear population recovery. Grizzly bears were classified as a threatened species by the Alberta government in 2010, and their management involves considerations like attacks on livestock, pets, or humans.
Although hunting grizzlies has been banned in Alberta since 2006, exceptions are made for Indigenous hunters for subsistence or cultural purposes. The province clarified that grizzly removal through the Wildlife Management Responder Network is not considered hunting, as authorizations are granted case by case rather than through tags.
The province highlighted that while the number of grizzlies killed by the wildlife responder program has risen, the overall human-caused mortality of bears in 2026 is lower than usual. The province emphasized that recovery goals are being met, and proactive management is being implemented where necessary to address conflicts in areas where grizzly habitats intersect with agricultural activities.
Most grizzly bear killings through the program occurred in southwestern Alberta, an area with high grizzly bear population density. Effective wildlife coexistence measures are deemed essential in such regions to mitigate conflicts. The province announced a $700,000 investment over five years in 2024 to enhance wildlife deterrent strategies in southwestern Alberta.
The province estimates the current grizzly bear population in Alberta to be around 1,000, with no recent provincial population study conducted since 2018.