Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services is asking for the public’s help following the discovery of a deceased grizzly bear with a gunshot wound last autumn, as stated in a social media post released by the department on Friday.
Last November 25, a hunter reported finding the bear carcass near Honey Coulee, a public trail area situated approximately 110 kilometers south of Calgary. Wildlife officers determined that the grizzly bear had been shot sometime earlier, possibly between November 8 and 20, according to Fish and Wildlife officials.
Grizzly bear hunting has been prohibited in Alberta since 2006, as these bears are classified as a threatened species by the provincial government. A spokesperson from Fish and Wildlife emphasized that illegal hunting activities like poaching not only harm the province’s ecosystems but also lawful hunters. These actions undermine conservation efforts and jeopardize wildlife population management, potentially leading to stricter regulations that impact law-abiding hunters.
Through the Report A Poacher program in the province, individuals providing information leading to charges could be eligible for a monetary reward. Retired Alberta Fish and Wildlife officer John Clarke highlighted the significance of incidents involving the illegal shooting of grizzly bears due to their low reproductive rates, which contribute to their vulnerable status.
Clarke mentioned past cases where grizzly bears were unlawfully shot, including instances of intentional killing and mistaken identity with black bears. Although black bear hunting is allowed in the area where the grizzly bear was found, Clarke suggested that the shooting might have been a case of misidentification, given that the black bear season ended at the conclusion of November.
The ongoing investigation by Fish and Wildlife likely includes examining the area for evidence like tire tracks or footprints, interviewing locals, and identifying hunters holding black bear hunting licenses in the vicinity. Despite challenges in pinpointing the exact shooting location, efforts are being made to solve the case.
Over the period from 2013 to 2022, the primary cause of grizzly bear mortality in Alberta was vehicle collisions, as reported by the provincial government. During this timeframe, there were 58 recorded instances of illegal killing of grizzly bears and six cases where a grizzly bear was mistakenly identified as a black bear.