Exposed Wildlife Conservancy Urges Alberta to Prioritize Coexistence Funding Over Reinstating Grizzly Bear Hunt
Amiskwaciwâskahikan/Edmonton - In response to the Rural Municipalities of Alberta’s (RMA) recent call to reopen the grizzly bear hunt, Exposed Wildlife Conservancy (EWC) has released an official statement focused on solutions that support both community safety and wildlife conservation. EWC is urging the Government of Alberta to prioritize funding for proven coexistence strategies, an important request also made by the RMA in their resolution.
“It’s deeply concerning that communities have asked for proven, preventative solutions and have not been adequately supported,” said Spizzirri. “Without that support, we risk defaulting to reactive approaches like the hunting of a Threatened species, that do not address the root causes of conflict.”
EWC acknowledges the growing concern expressed by the RMA regarding human-grizzly bear conflict and community safety across the province.
“Living alongside wildlife isn’t always easy,” said John E. Marriott, Co-founder and Chair of Exposed Wildlife Conservancy. “For many rural communities in Alberta, the challenges of human-grizzly bear conflict are real and ongoing, and we hear those concerns.”
In 2024, the RMA called on the province to increase funding for non-lethal coexistence measures and strengthen frontline response capacity. However, no meaningful increase in funding or resources was provided, leaving municipalities without the tools proven to effectively address rising conflict concerns.
In 2026, the RMA expanded its recommendations to include both the reinstatement of a grizzly bear hunt and the creation of a dedicated funding program to support research, conflict mitigation, and community safety initiatives.
While EWC does not support reopening a grizzly bear hunt, the organization emphasized that the RMA’s continued advocacy for coexistence funding is both important and evidence-based.
“We recognize the very real challenges rural communities are facing, and we commend the RMA for continuing to push for proven and proactive, non-lethal solutions,” shared Spizzirri. “Coexistence measures work, but they require consistent funding, long-term commitment, and government support to be effective.”
Rural municipalities have repeatedly called for increased investment in conservation officers, problem wildlife specialists, and preventative programs. EWC notes that these requests have largely gone unmet, despite clear evidence that such measures reduce conflict.
Coexistence strategies, including attractant management, electric fencing, range riders, and public education, are widely recognized as effective tools for reducing human-wildlife conflict. However, many programs that previously supported this work have not been funded or operational for over a decade, underscoring the need for renewed and sustained investment.
EWC also raised concerns about the increasing reliance on lethal management approaches, including the 2025 introduction of the Grizzly Bear Responder Network, which allows for the killing of bears deemed “problem wildlife.”
“The evidence is clear: hunting is not a reliable tool for reducing human-wildlife conflict,” said Marriott. “In fact, research has consistently shown that lethal removal can disrupt carnivore populations and, in some cases, increase conflict. Reinstating a hunt under the premise of public safety is just not supported by evidence.”
Reducing conflict through hunting would require harvest levels high enough to risk the long-term survival of grizzly bear populations, a completely unacceptable outcome given that grizzly bears remain listed as a threatened species in Alberta as well as an important keystone species responsible for the health of the ecosystems on which we all depend.
EWC emphasized that while lethal removal may be necessary in rare cases involving immediate threats to human safety, it should remain a last resort and not form the basis of broader wildlife management policy.
The organization also cautioned against relying on outdated or anecdotal data to inform policy decisions. Numbers cited in discussions on grizzly populations are more than a decade old, as Alberta’s own Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan has not yet been implemented, including population monitoring across Bear Management Areas.
“Wildlife management decisions must be grounded in current, peer-reviewed science,” said Spizzirri. “Anecdotal observations cannot replace robust data when we’re making decisions about a threatened species.”
EWC highlighted that recent environmental factors are also contributing to conflict. In 2025, both Alberta’s Rocky Mountains and British Columbia’s Central Coast experienced changes in key food availability, including early fruiting of buffaloberries, an essential food source for grizzly bears, which may have influenced bear movement and increased the likelihood of human interaction.
“Conflict is often driven by environmental conditions and human activity, not simply by wildlife populations,” added Spizzirri. “If we don’t address those underlying factors, we will continue to see the same challenges.”
EWC is urging the Government of Alberta to take a proactive, evidence-based approach by investing in long-term coexistence initiatives, implementing their own Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan, and supporting communities with the proven tools they need to safely live alongside wildlife.
“Alberta is at a critical decision point where stewardship and community support offer the best path forward,” said Marriott. “We’re urging the government to invest in coexistence solutions that are proven to work for both people and wildlife.”
Public opinion data consistently shows strong support for maintaining protections for grizzly bears and for science-based wildlife policy. Provincial and national polling conducted in recent years has indicated that the significant majority of Albertans and Canadians oppose the hunting of large carnivores and support coexistence-focused management approaches.
Exposed Wildlife Conservancy remains committed to working collaboratively with communities, policymakers, and conservation partners to advance solutions that address the root causes of conflict and support a sustainable future for both people and wildlife.
Read the official statement from Exposed Wildlife Conservancy: www.exposedwc.org/news/rma-coexistence-funding-ewc-official-statement
