In Alberta, a program involving hunters to address conflicts with grizzly bears has resulted in the lethal removal of one bear, as confirmed by Minister Todd Loewen. The incident took place in mid-June near Twin Butte, Pincher Creek. Since grizzly bear hunting has been prohibited in the province since 2006, exceptions are made through the Wildlife Management Responder Network, established in June 2024.

The Wildlife Management Responder Network engages qualified hunters selected for the program to address situations where killing a grizzly bear is deemed necessary. While the program allows responders to keep various parts of the bear after shooting it, excluding the gallbladder, it is not considered a bear hunt by the province.

John Clarke, a retired Alberta Fish and Wildlife officer, emphasized the importance of mitigating human-grizzly conflicts by preventing bears from being attracted to populated areas. He suggested investing in measures like electric fences and upgrading grain storage to deter bears from farms rather than resorting to bear killings.

Despite criticisms, Minister Loewen defended the program as a response to the increasing negative interactions between grizzlies and humans due to the rising grizzly bear population in Alberta. The province’s grizzly bear recovery program aims to restore grizzly habitat and promote co-existence through education initiatives like Bear Smart.