Alberta officials are currently investigating incidents where poachers have unlawfully killed grizzly bears in the province. The Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services are looking into the illegal shootings of four grizzly bears at separate locations.
One grizzly bear was discovered shot dead on September 30 along a road approximately 20 kilometers north of Swan Hills in the vicinity of Edmonton. The following day, on October 1, another grizzly bear was found deceased in a remote area between Little Smoky and Fox Creek, with all four of its paws missing.
This recent case adds to previous incidents where two grizzly bears were found shot dead in June near Sundre, about 95 kilometers northwest of Calgary. Additionally, in March of this year, public assistance was sought in a poaching investigation after a grizzly bear was found dead from a gunshot wound in November 2025.
Hunting grizzly bears in Alberta has been prohibited since 2006, except for Indigenous hunters who may harvest for subsistence or cultural reasons. The province is urging anyone with information on these poaching activities or other suspected wildlife violations to contact the Report-A-Poacher line or submit a report online.
Gordon Stenhouse, a prominent biologist involved in Alberta’s grizzly bear population research, expressed disappointment at the illegal killings and abandonment of the bear carcasses. Stenhouse emphasized the disrespect shown towards wildlife, particularly endangered species like grizzly bears, by such actions.
The biologist also noted that the actual number of poached bears found is likely only a fraction of the total incidents occurring. Stenhouse highlighted the importance of addressing poaching activities to ensure the protection and conservation of grizzly bears in the region.
Kim Titchener, founder of Bear Safety and More, emphasized the need for better coexistence between humans and bears in shared landscapes. Titchener stressed the importance of implementing measures such as electric fencing and bear-resistant containers to mitigate conflicts with grizzly bears instead of resorting to lethal measures.
The Alberta government has allocated funds to enhance safety measures and prevent encounters between large carnivores and rural properties. Various programs like BearSmart are being supported across Alberta to minimize human-wildlife conflicts and safeguard the grizzly bear population.
Although the province estimates around 1,000 grizzly bears currently inhabit Alberta, a comprehensive provincial population study has not been conducted since 2018. The government remains committed to conservation efforts and addressing the challenges faced by grizzly bears in the region.