Alberta is currently investigating multiple incidents of poaching involving grizzly bears. The Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services is looking into the illegal killings of four grizzly bears at three separate locations. One bear was discovered shot dead on September 30 along a road about 20 kilometers north of Swan Hills. The following day, another grizzly bear was found dead in a remote area between Little Smoky and Fox Creek, with all four paws removed. These incidents follow the discovery of two grizzly bears shot dead in June near Sundre, northwest of Calgary.
Poaching of grizzly bears has been banned in Alberta since 2006, except for Indigenous hunters who may harvest for subsistence or cultural purposes. The province is urging anyone with information on these poaching cases or other wildlife offenses to report through the Report-A-Poacher line or online.
Gordon Stenhouse, a prominent biologist specializing in Alberta’s grizzly bear population, expressed disappointment at the recent poaching incidents. Stenhouse emphasized the disrespect shown towards wildlife by shooting and abandoning grizzly bears, a threatened species. He believes that the actual number of poached bears found is likely only a fraction of the total incidents occurring.
The Alberta government has documented 28 cases of illegal human-caused grizzly bear mortality from 2020 to 2025, constituting about 17% of grizzly bear deaths during this period. Poaching, along with other causes like provincial interventions and vehicle collisions, contributes to grizzly bear mortality. Grizzly bears have been classified as a threatened species in Alberta since 2010.
Mark Boyce, an ecology professor at the University of Alberta, noted that while poaching may not be a major issue in grizzly bear conservation, the recent incidents are unfortunate. He highlighted the existence of a black market for grizzly bear parts, indicating illegal activities beyond the initial poaching.
Kim Titchener, founder of Bear Safety and More, views poaching as a symptom of human-bear conflicts in Alberta. She emphasized the need for better co-existence strategies rather than resorting to killing grizzly bears. Titchener advocates for prioritizing resources like electric fencing and bear-resistant containers to manage conflicts effectively.
The Alberta government has allocated funds to mitigate conflicts between large carnivores and rural properties, aiming to reduce wildlife-related issues. BearSmart programs are supported across Alberta to minimize human-wildlife conflicts and protect grizzly bears. Although an exact population study has not been conducted since 2018, the province estimates around 1,000 grizzlies currently inhabit Alberta.
