Alberta’s Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services is requesting public aid following the discovery of a deceased grizzly bear with a gunshot wound last autumn. The bear’s remains were located by a hunter on November 25 near Honey Coulee, an outdoor area approximately 110 kilometers south of Calgary.
Authorities determined that the grizzly bear had been shot sometime between November 8 and 20. Hunting grizzly bears has been prohibited in Alberta since 2006 due to their threatened status as recognized by the provincial government.
A spokesperson from Fish and Wildlife emphasized the detrimental impact of poaching and other illicit hunting activities on Alberta’s ecosystems and law-abiding hunters. Such activities undermine conservation efforts, endanger wildlife population management, and may lead to stricter regulations affecting lawful hunters.
Through the Report A Poacher program, individuals providing information leading to charges could potentially receive a monetary reward. Retired Fish and Wildlife officer John Clarke highlighted the significance of illegal grizzly bear shootings, citing the species’ low reproductive rates as a contributing factor to their vulnerable status.
Clarke mentioned past cases of grizzly bears being unlawfully shot, underscoring the importance of species identification in hunting. Despite the possibility of mistaken identity, Clarke affirmed that the deceased bear in question was unmistakably a grizzly bear based on photographic evidence.
The investigation into the incident involves various methods such as examining the area for evidence, interviewing locals, and cross-referencing hunting licenses. However, due to the potential scenario of the bear being shot and wandering off before succumbing, pinpointing the exact location of the shooting may pose challenges.
Grizzly bear mortality data in Alberta indicates that vehicle collisions were the leading cause of death from 2013 to 2022. During this period, there were 58 recorded cases of illegal killings and six instances of misidentification where grizzlies were mistaken for black bears.