The number of grizzly bears killed by hunters authorized by the Alberta government has significantly increased in recent months. Thirteen grizzly bears have been killed through Alberta’s Wildlife Management Responder Network this year, with eleven of them being taken down within the last three-and-a-half months, primarily due to livestock predation. Since the program’s establishment in June 2024, a total of 14 grizzly bears have been killed by hunters, with only one in 2025.
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The province’s pool of “problem wildlife” responders comprises qualified Albertan hunters selected for the program. When deemed necessary by the province, these hunters may be called upon to eliminate a grizzly bear. Alberta’s Ministry of Forestry and Parks emphasized that their wildlife management strategy is science-driven, focusing on public safety, conflict reduction, and grizzly bear population recovery.
While the province did not disclose specific details regarding the recent killings, they stated that all grizzly bear deaths under the program occurred outside designated recovery areas. The Alberta government reiterated its commitment to managing grizzly bears with a recovery goal, as outlined in the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan.
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Grizzly bears were classified as a threatened species by the Government of Alberta in 2010. The Ministry of Forestry and Parks explained that grizzly bear management adheres to provincial guidelines, considering factors like livestock, pet, or human encounters when determining responses to incidents. The province reported an average of 11 grizzly bear removals annually from 2021 to 2025.
Grizzly hunting has been prohibited in Alberta since 2006, except for Indigenous hunters for subsistence or cultural purposes. The province clarified that grizzly removal through the Wildlife Management Responder Network is not a hunting activity, as authorizations are granted case-by-case rather than through tags. Comparable to sport hunting, responders are permitted to retain the bear’s meat, hide, and other parts except for the gallbladder.
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Despite the rise in grizzly bear killings through the wildlife responder program, the province highlighted that the overall human-caused mortality of bears this year is lower than usual. The