Alberta Kills Habituated Black Bear

A black bear was euthanized on May 6 by Alberta Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Services after becoming a public safety concern in the summer village of Burnstick Lake. The bear was described as "habituated," meaning it showed little fear of humans, a characteristic that elevates public safety risks. Alberta Parks has also issued warnings and closures in Kananaskis Country due to bear activity.

Mountain View BearSmart, an organization dedicated to wildlife monitoring and coexistence in Clearwater and Mountain View counties, tracks such sightings. Society chair Paul Fraser noted the bear had been in the area for about a week, suggesting attractants like bird feeders or garbage were present.

Fraser explained that once a bear becomes habituated or food-conditioned, euthanasia is often the only recourse, as relocation is typically unsuccessful. He highlighted that bears moved to new areas can face aggression from resident bears. "It's all about food," stated retired Fish and Wildlife officer John Clarke, emphasizing that readily available attractants are the primary driver for bears entering populated areas.

Black bears are found in about 75 percent of Alberta and inhabit most forested areas, existing in every Canadian province except Prince Edward Island. While not considered at-risk nationally, grizzly bears are a threatened species in Alberta. Response to problem bears follows provincial guidelines that classify bears based on age, presence of cubs, and specific behaviours like habituation, food association, or predation.