“Problem” grizzly bears that are deemed to threaten public safety now can be hunted in Alberta, a reversal of a two-decade ban. The province’s officials say this is not a full-fledged hunting season with dates, quotas or other regulations. The move, spurred by a change to the Alberta Wildlife Act, is designed to help put a dent in conflicts between humans and bears.

Officials announced in June that regulations have been established to allow certain qualified, government-approved hunters to pursue problem bears. These hunters will be selected from those who apply for the position, and who meet the outlined criteria set by Alberta Forestry and Parks officials. These hunters, according to the Rocky Mountain Outlook, will have “grizzly bear management authorization” to act, if called upon to pursue a specific bear.

Wildlife officials say targeted bears will have been involved in bear-human conflicts, any bear without cubs that poses “an imminent public safety risk” or oen that has “killed livestock, damaged private property or made contact with a human resulting in injury or death.”  If contacted about a bear, the approved hunter would have 24 hours to be at the scene to pursue the bruin. He or she would have specific guidelines to follow including hunting times, methods, equipment and location.

Alberta officials say the grizzly bear population was between 856 and 973 during its latest count, in 2021, and human conflicts have increased during the 20-year hunting ban. Officials told the Rocky Mountain Outlook that eight people have been killed and 62 others mauled by grizzly bears since 2005. Also, almost 900 reports of livestock depredation have occurred during the past eight years.