In 2024, Alberta witnessed a rise in human-caused grizzly bear fatalities, marking the highest number on record. Data from the provincial government reveals that a total of 40 known grizzly deaths occurred that year, with causes ranging from poaching and vehicle collisions to lethal removal by law enforcement agencies. Specifically, 21 grizzlies were killed through “agency removals,” the highest figure ever documented and the only instance where more than half of the total grizzly bear deaths were attributed to agency removals.
This surge in fatalities has been linked to the updated grizzly bear response guide implemented in 2023. The revised framework classifies bears based on various factors such as age, presence of cubs, and problematic behavior like habituation to humans or preying on livestock. The changes have granted officers greater authority in decision-making processes concerning bear management, with a lower threshold for the lethal removal of male grizzlies. Notably, 14 out of the 21 grizzlies euthanized by law enforcement in 2024 were male.
Under the new response protocol, male grizzlies can be euthanized upon their first instance of habituation or food-conditioning if they are outside designated recovery zones as outlined in the Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan. Female grizzlies, especially breeding females, are considered more crucial for population sustainability due to their low reproductive rates. Alberta has classified grizzly bears as a threatened species since 2010.
Despite the increase in grizzly bear mortalities in 2024, the provincial ministry of Forestry and Parks emphasized that the spike was a result of annual variability in conflict incidents rather than a singular, overarching cause. The mortality data spans multiple regions of the province without pinpointing specific areas. The following year, in 2025, the total number of grizzly deaths decreased to 18, with six of those being agency removals.
In an effort to mitigate conflicts between grizzlies and human activities, the Rural Municipalities of Alberta have advocated for the legalization of grizzly bear hunting by the provincial government. Grizzly bear sport hunting was prohibited in 2006, with the exception of a year where 73 hunting licenses were issued, resulting in 10 grizzlies being killed. The government estimates the current grizzly bear population in Alberta to be around 1,000, although an official population count has not been conducted since 2018.
