AWA Statement: Alberta Promises Grizzly Bear Population Count

July 16, 2026

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• Grizzly Bears
• Wildlife
• Wildlife Management

AWA was pleased to learn the Government of Alberta is funding a grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) monitoring project led by fRI Research.

A grizzly bear population count is long overdue, the last numbers being released in 2021 based on data from between 2004 and 2018 and representing populations for 2016. Alberta’s Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan recommends that “population estimates should be measured in an adaptive, rotating schedule ideally such that each BMA [Bear Management Area] is surveyed every five years.” Yet, the last study of a grizzly bear population in Alberta was conducted in 2018, eight years ago.

“We welcome the new data that an updated and accurate population count would bring,” says Ruiping Luo, Conservation Specialist with Alberta Wilderness Association. “It would add to the discussion around wildlife management. This information must be used to inform wildlife management policies in the province.”

This data would also help to clarify the extent to which recovery has been successful and determine the best practices to continue managing the population. AWA asks that the new information be used to determine best practices for wildlife management and add to the scientific research available on grizzly bears, and be made publicly available.

The announcement was made through media outlets and not released through Alberta News.

Background

Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) were officially designated by Alberta as a Threatened species in 2010, and the Alberta Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan was released in 2020. An Addendum to the Recovery Plan, proving a province-wide estimate of grizzly bear populations, was released in 2021. Hunting of grizzly bears has been banned in Alberta since 2006.

This province-wide population estimate released in 2021 was determined using studies for various Bear Management Areas (BMAs) conducted between 2004 and 2018. According to the Recovery Plan, population estimates for each BMA should be repeated every five years.

AWA has been requesting grizzly bear population numbers since 2024, after the Wildlife Management Responder Network was announced which would allow members of the public to kill grizzly bears considered “problem animals.” At the time, Alberta claimed there were more than 1,150 grizzly bears in Alberta.

We wrote to the Minister asking for scientific evidence of current grizzly bear numbers. The Minister’s response letter did not provide the requested information.

We repeated the request for scientific evidence on current grizzly bear population numbers the Rural Municipalities of Alberta called for grizzly bear hunts to be reopened, along with other bear management practices. We have repeatedly stated that we want sustainable and science-based wildlife management policies.

Population monitoring is a vital part of creating science-based wildlife management, and regulations and policies must be based on population data. However, it is not the only information necessary for sustainable management. Understanding the impacts of hunting, population dynamics for the species, and sustainable harvest levels is also important. Population data should inform wildlife management, but policies and regulations must also consider other available information.