A grizzly bear was captured and put down on Saturday in central Alberta, as confirmed by provincial authorities. Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services trapped the bear in the vicinity of Red Lodge Provincial Park, southwest of Red Deer, following an incident where the bear attempted to access a chicken coop on a nearby property on June 3. Acting in accordance with established provincial grizzly bear response protocols and under the guidance of Forestry and Parks wildlife management officials, the bear was euthanized on the same day.
The province reported that the grizzly bear’s carcass was given to an Indigenous individual for traditional purposes. Central Alberta has emerged as a focal point for bear activity, with increasing encounters noted in the region, according to Kim Titchener, the founder of Bear Safety & More. Titchener highlighted the growing frequency of bear interactions in the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and certain Prairie environments. She emphasized the reemergence of grizzly bears into their historical habitats, now coexisting with expanding human populations.
Titchener pointed out two fatal grizzly attacks near Water Valley and Waiparous in central Alberta in 2021. Additionally, a grizzly bear mauling incident near Madden resulted in severe injuries to a hunter in 2024, with DNA testing confirming its involvement in a previous fatal attack near Waiparous three years prior.
Addressing the rising conflicts, Titchener advised special precautions for residents in bear-prone areas, such as installing electric fencing around chicken coops. Other recommendations included removing bird feeders, securing compost, and refraining from leaving dog food outside. She stressed the need for a paradigm shift in managing human-bear interactions in outskirt habitats.
The province justified the bear’s euthanasia based on established provincial grizzly bear response guidelines. These guidelines classify bears based on various factors, including age, presence of cubs, and problematic behavior such as habituation to humans or preying on livestock or pets. Grizzly bears have been classified as a threatened species in Alberta since 2010, with hunting banned since 2006 except for Indigenous hunting for cultural or subsistence purposes. The province also permits approved hunters to eliminate “problem” grizzlies through the Wildlife Management Responder Network introduced in 2024.
Alberta’s latest estimate puts the grizzly bear population at over 1,150 bears, with the last provincial study on grizzly numbers dating back to 2018. The province’s recovery plan focuses on protecting and restoring grizzly habitat, minimizing human-wildlife conflicts and mortalities, and promoting bear coexistence through BearSmart programs across Alberta.
