Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services is asking for the public’s help following the discovery of a deceased grizzly bear with a gunshot wound last autumn, as revealed in a social media post by the department on Friday. The lifeless bear was found by a hunter on November 25 near Honey Coulee, a popular trail area approximately 110 kilometers south of Calgary. Officials determined that the grizzly bear had been shot sometime earlier, possibly between November 8 and 20, according to Fish and Wildlife.
Grizzly bear hunting has been prohibited in Alberta since 2006, with the species classified as threatened by the provincial government. A spokesperson from Fish and Wildlife emphasized the detrimental impact of poaching and other illegal hunting activities on Alberta’s ecosystems, lawful hunters, and wildlife population management efforts. These activities not only undermine conservation initiatives but also lead to stricter legislation that affects law-abiding hunters.
The province’s Report A Poacher program offers a cash reward to individuals who provide information leading to charges being laid. Retired Alberta Fish and Wildlife officer John Clarke highlighted the significance of illegal grizzly bear shootings due to the species’ low reproductive rates, making them vulnerable. Clarke mentioned previous cases during his career where grizzly bears were unlawfully shot, either intentionally or due to mistaken identity as black bears.
Although black bear hunting was permitted in the area where the deceased grizzly was found in November, Clarke suggested the shooting may have been a case of mistaken identity considering the timing of the black bear hunting season. However, he confirmed that the bear in question was unmistakably a grizzly bear based on photos shared by Alberta Fish and Wildlife. The ongoing investigation likely involves searching for evidence such as tire tracks or footprints, interviewing locals, and identifying hunters with black bear licenses in the vicinity.
The Alberta government monitors grizzly bear deaths in the region, with vehicle collisions being the primary cause of mortality between 2013 and 2022. During that period, the province recorded 58 instances of illegal killing and six cases of grizzlies being misidentified as black bears.