Shot Grizzly

On November 16 at 0844hrs, Alberta Fish & Wildlife officers responded to a shot and left Grizzly bear on the Weyerhaeuser cut-across from the Groat Creek Haul Road south of Whitecourt. Officers located the Grizzly Bear that was partially consumed by scavengers and recovered evidence from the kill site. Officers believe the incident took place over the November 14/15 weekend. Officers are asking for assistance from the public on anyone who might have information on this poaching incident or suspicious activity in the area around SW-22-57-14-W5M.
This is the third Grizzly bear poached this fall in the region. Fox Creek had one poached last month around Kilometer 135 of the ANC Road and Hinton District had one shot and left near the Gregg River on Highway 40.
This is the second year in a row that a Grizzly bear has been shot in the Whitecourt District. The previous case the hunter mistakenly harvested the animal thinking it was a Black bear.
Something as simple as a Facebook post of a bear taken by a friend might be all Fish & Wildlife officers need to help pin-point or locate the suspect/s.
Grizzly bear and human encounters are on the increase and hunters are reminded to give them their space and ensure that a hunter studies the animal before pulling the trigger. This is a mild November and bears are still awake and fattening up for hibernation. Black bears can sometime be mistaken for Grizzly bears. Remember, there are lots of honest hunters on the landscape and hunters can make mistakes. The hunters who report hunting mishaps or accidents are true sportsman. Hunters who make a mistake like shooting a Grizzly bear by accident and drive away are poachers, not hunters!
The number to report poachers is 1-800-642-3800. Callers can be kept confidential, request to speak to an officer, and might be eligible for a reward.