Management Plans
Last Review/Updated: October 17, 2007
In 1982, the government of Alberta published Fish and Wildlife Policy for Alberta which provides policy goals and a framework for the management of many species of wildlife. Comprehensive plans for bears were formulated in 1990 (grizzlies) and 1993 (black bears).
Grizzly Bears
An analysis of known grizzly mortalities revealed that some regional populations were probably overexploited during the 1980s; total annual man-caused mortalities increased from a range of 17 to 33 during the previous decade to average 53 per year during 1980 to 1987. Recreational hunting accounted for 37 (70%). Moreover, excessive kills of females and disproportionate clumping of kills occurred in several bear management areas.The 1990 management plan included four major goals:
- Maintain a viable grizzly bear population.
- Maximize benefits to Albertans by optimizing aesthetic, recreational and commercial uses.
- Minimize property damage and other problems caused by grizzlies.
- Promote and encourage scientific and educational activities.
Significant progress has already been made in reducing mortalities of grizzly bears and other mortalities are down but can vary. Alberta's response to problem bears and serious bear-human conflicts continues to be refined and is second to none other in Canada.
The Northern East Slopes Environmental Resource Committee (ERC) established a Regional Carnivore Management Group to ensure implementation of Grizzly Bear Conservation in the Alberta Yellowhead Ecosystem – A Strategic Framework.
More recently, a number of things have been undertaken on management of grizzly bears. For more details, visit Grizzly Bear Management.
Black Bears
Generally, the plan concluded that Alberta's population was healthy and in no danger of overexploitation. The objectives emphasized that the current population should be maintained, that hunting harvests for Albertans and nonresidents could be locally increased, that more nuisance bears be translocated, and that research be continued.
For black bears, the major challenge is to maintain secure, wild populations in the face of accelerated logging, oil and gas and other developments in the north. On the eastern slopes including the national parks, development, forest maturation and problem bear removals remain a concern. Of fundamental importance is the exploitation of human foods by bears. Those opportunities should be eliminated entirely. The animals must remain wild, not dependent on us, except our responsibility to conserve their natural habitats.
Another important strategy is to incorporate information on habitat use and habitat availability for black bears into land-use plans. Where populations are adequate, high-quality recreational hunting could be encouraged particularly in areas where it might contribute to a reduction in the incidence of problems. Additionally, the significance of black bear predation of moose and other northern ungulates needs to be determined.
