Grizzly bear recovery – Reducing human-bear conflict

The recommendation to reduce human-bear conflicts by working with people is closely related to the recommendation to improve and deliver education and outreach.

This strategy has addressed the behaviour of both people and grizzly bears, so that both species can learn to safely share the landscape.

Working with People

Learning how to prevent bear encounters and how to respond when bear encounters are inevitable is an important part of living, working and recreating in bear territory and essential for grizzly bear conservation to succeed.

The Alberta BearSmart program uses the latest research findings to develop recommendations for preventing conflict with bears.

The Alberta BearSmart program involves government staff doing educational and operational work in their regions. It also provides support directly to community members who create innovative ideas for preventing human-bear conflict where they live and work.

To learn more about the BearSmart program, see:

• Alberta BearSmart

Managing Grizzly Bear Behaviour

Government agencies, industry and members of community groups contribute regularly to grizzly bear conservation by teaching bears that they will not be rewarded with easy meals if they approach human-use spaces.

They do this by securing the many food sources, such as garbage, grain and bird seed that can attract bears to human homes, ranches and camps.

See how landowners in southwestern Alberta have adapted to the increase of grizzly bears in order to minimize human-grizzly conflict:

• Cowboys and Carnivores

Grizzly Bear Response Guide

The Grizzly Bear Response Guide was developed to help government officials take effective, consistent action when human-grizzly bear conflict occurs.

To read the guide, see:

• Grizzly Bear Response Guide