Alberta’s Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services have reached out to the public for help regarding a dead grizzly bear discovered with a gunshot wound last autumn. The incident was reported by a hunter on November 25, close to Honey Coulee, a popular trail spot approximately 110 kilometers south of Calgary. Officials determined that the bear had been shot sometime between November 8 and 20. Grizzly bear hunting has been prohibited in Alberta since 2006 due to their endangered status as classified by the provincial government.
A spokesperson from Fish and Wildlife emphasized the negative impact of poaching and illegal hunting activities on both the environment and law-abiding hunters. Such actions undermine conservation efforts, jeopardize wildlife population management, and can result in stricter regulations that affect lawful hunters. The province’s Report A Poacher initiative offers a cash reward to individuals providing information leading to charges being filed.
Retired Alberta Fish and Wildlife officer John Clarke highlighted the significance of a grizzly bear being shot, noting their slow reproductive rates, which contribute to their vulnerable status. He recalled several incidents during his career involving illegally shot grizzly bears, some intentional and others due to mistaken identity with black bears. While black bear hunting was allowed in the area where the deceased grizzly was found last November, Clarke suggested the shooting may have been a case of mistaken identity based on the timing of the black bear hunting season.
The investigation into the incident likely involves examining tire tracks, speaking with locals, and identifying hunters with black bear licenses in the vicinity. However, the possibility that the wounded grizzly moved before succumbing to its injuries could complicate pinpointing the exact shooting location. Government records show that vehicle collisions were the leading cause of grizzly bear deaths in Alberta from 2013 to 2022, with instances of illegal killings and mistaken identities with black bears also documented during that period.
