After nearly two decades, Alberta has partially lifted the ban on hunting grizzly bears, causing outrage among environmentalists concerned about the impact on the species. The decision comes as a response to the growing population of grizzlies, which has increased from 800 to over 1,150 in recent years. This surge in numbers has forced bears into more populated rural areas, leading to conflicts with humans.
While the Alberta government justifies the decision by pointing to the 104 recorded attacks by black or grizzly bears from 2000 to 2021, critics argue that hunting is not a suitable solution for a threatened species. Devon Earl of the Alberta Wilderness Association warns that trophy hunting could undo a decade of recovery efforts due to grizzlies’ slow reproductive rate.
Earl advocates for “science-based approaches” to reduce wildlife conflict, such as securing attractants on agricultural lands and installing electric fences to deter bears from encroaching on human territory. With tensions rising between conservationists and authorities, the fate of Alberta’s grizzly bears hangs in the balance.