FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2026
Amiskwaciwâskahikan/Edmonton, Alberta — At a pivotal moment for wildlife conservation in Alberta, Exposed Wildlife Conservancy, in collaboration with Alberta Wilderness Association and the Grizzly Bear Foundation, has officially launched the first public action letter in a province-wide campaign calling on the Government of Alberta to maintain the closure of the grizzly bear hunt and fully implement Alberta’s Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan.
In response to recent statements from Alberta’s Ministry of Forestry and Parks indicating that reopening a grizzly bear hunt is under consideration to address human-bear conflict, conservation organizations warn that reintroducing a recreational hunt without current population data would undermine years of scientific research, public investment, and collaborative conservation policy.
“Grizzly bears are still a Threatened species in Alberta,” said Ruiping Luo, Conservation Specialist at Alberta Wilderness Association. “We have no current information on their populations across the province, and no clear data showing their populations have recovered. Nor is there evidence to suggest that recreational hunting is the best strategy to reduce human-wildlife conflict. Before a hunting season is considered, we should have scientific evidence that suggests hunting is sustainable and beneficial to grizzly bear management.”
In an official statement, the organizations urged that a threatened species should not be hunted under the guise of conflict management, while the primary causes of conflict remain unresolved.
“Hunting is not an effective conflict management tool, nor should it be positioned as one by the Ministry,” said John E. Marriott, Co-founder and Chair of Exposed Wildlife Conservancy. “Such a decision would represent a significant departure from Alberta’s own scientific guidance and legal recovery obligations for a species still formally listed as Threatened under Alberta’s Wildlife Act.”
Instead, experts and conservation groups continue to identify proven coexistence strategies, including attractant management, public education, and conflict prevention programs, as the most effective path toward reducing conflict while supporting long-term ecological stability.
“At moments like this, it is important that fear-based narratives do not drive long-term wildlife policy,” said Nicholas Scapillati, Executive Director of the Grizzly Bear Foundation. “Our commitment remains to thoughtful, evidence-based approaches — guided by science and Indigenous knowledge — that support both community safety and the long-term recovery of grizzly bears in Alberta.”
Grizzly bears once ranged widely across Alberta’s landscapes, but have already been extirpated (made locally extinct) from the prairie regions. Today, remaining populations continue to face mounting pressures from habitat fragmentation, human-caused mortality, industrial development, and preventable conflict associated with unsecured attractants.
The three organizations emphasize that Alberta’s own Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan clearly identifies reducing human-caused mortality as the central requirement for recovery. Yet six years after its release, many of Alberta’s own recommendations, including comprehensive population monitoring, habitat protections, and expanded coexistence measures for rural communities, have not been implemented.
As part of the campaign launch, members of the public are being invited to participate in a three-part province-wide letter-writing initiative urging Alberta’s government to:
The initiative follows a formal co-signed letter previously submitted to the Government of Alberta outlining concerns surrounding any potential reinstatement of the hunt and calling for evidence-based wildlife governance rooted in stewardship and public trust.
Organizers describe the campaign series as an effort to elevate public awareness around grizzly bear recovery, the proven success of non-lethal conflict management, to strengthen accountability in wildlife management, and ensure Alberta’s threatened grizzly populations are protected through science-based policy and long-term stewardship.
“The future of grizzly bears in Alberta will depend on the choices made now,” said Maggie Spizzirri, Executive Director of Exposed Wildlife Conservancy. “Maintaining the hunt closure while fully implementing Alberta’s recovery framework is not simply a conservation recommendation; it is the minimum standard of responsible wildlife governance.”
Read the Opening Statement and Joint Letter
Exposed Wildlife Conservancy
Maggie Spizzirri
mspizzirri@exposedwc.org
250-814-3840
Alberta Wilderness Association
Ruiping Luo
Rluo@abwild.ca
403.283.2025
Grizzly Bear Foundation
Nicholas Scapillati
nscapillati@grizzlybearfoundation.com
604-551-2489
