Expert fears Bear 148 may be put to death
A grizzly bear with a history of aggression against humans could be euthanized as it once again approaches Canmore town limits.
Kim Titchener, a longtime wildlife safety advocate and founder of Bear Safety & More, said the last she heard Bear 148 was on the Legacy Trail around Harvie Heights, about 10 kilometres west of Canmore. The provincial government said earlier this month the bear could be euthanized if it goes into Canmore and shows any aggression toward people as it has in the past, said Titchener.
“That being said, since then, there has been a meeting between them and Parks Canada staff and they were talking about how they could work together to keep this bear on the land,” said Titchener.
Grizzlies are a threatened species and euthanasia would be the last option.
Female bears are important, and it’s possible Bear 148 is pregnant after she was seen breeding with
She is surrounded by millions of people yearly and does a pretty good job of avoiding them.
a male in the fall, said Titchener.
Staff from Parks Canada and the Alberta government are on scene.
Bear 148 was captured earlier this month after charging a person with a stroller — the latest in a series of run-ins she’s had with people.
Shortly after, a petition called Save Bear #148 launched, urging officials to leave the bear alone.
“We know of so many people that have had so many positive encounters with Bear 148 and understand how important she is to Banff National Park and Alberta,” it read.
“She belongs here and on our landscape, the only home she knows, and should not be executed for simply being a bear. She is surrounded by millions of people yearly and does a pretty good job of avoiding them.”
The petition is nearing its goal of 10,000 signatures, with almost 8,400 as of Tuesday afternoon.
Other bears have been shot or relocated over the years after walking into Canmore, said Titchener. The problem is they are becoming increasingly familiar with human interaction.
“It’s inevitable when you have millions of visitors that the bears living in the area are going to get so used to people that they become very highly habituated,” she said. “They basically aren’t wild bears anymore.”
Titchener urges citizens to avoid the Legacy Trail. She said visitors have to do a better job in understanding proper ways to interact with bears, otherwise situations like this will continue to arise.
“We are the cause of their demise,” said Titchener. “What it comes down to is do we want to live with grizzly bears? Can we live with grizzly bears?”