Last week, Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services euthanized a black bear following reports of its repeated presence in a populated area. The bear was put down on May 6 in Burnstick Lake, a summer village in west-central Alberta’s Clearwater County, approximately 80 kilometers southwest of Red Deer. The province described the bear as “habituated,” indicating it had become accustomed to humans without showing fear, posing a potential safety risk.
Burnstick Lake, known for bear sightings, is closely monitored by Mountain View BearSmart, which tracks bear and large carnivore sightings in Clearwater and Mountain View counties. Society chair and wildlife biologist Paul Fraser mentioned that the bear had been lingering in the area for about a week. The reason for the bear’s attraction to the area, whether due to bird feeders, barbecues, or garbage, was not explicitly stated.
Fraser emphasized the importance of removing food attractants to prevent bears from entering populated areas like Burnstick Lake. Once bears become conditioned to human food sources, relocating them is unlikely to resolve the issue. The region supports a healthy black bear population and is also home to grizzly bears.
Alberta Parks has issued multiple warnings and closures in Kananaskis Country due to bear activity. Last summer, a surge in bear encounters led to a blanket bear warning for the entire Kananaskis Country area, a rare advisory since 2016.
Decisions on whether to relocate or euthanize problem bears are guided by Alberta’s black bear response protocol, considering factors such as the bear’s behavior, age, and presence of cubs. The main cause of bears entering urban areas is their search for food, particularly attracted by garbage and fruit trees.
As bears emerge from hibernation, they are actively seeking high-calorie food sources. Black bears are prevalent in about 75% of Alberta’s forested regions and are not considered at risk. In contrast, grizzly bears are a threatened species in Alberta, receiving more protection compared to black bears.
