Those cubs just learned that man is not to be respected/feared or avoided. Letting them live is not acceptable. Yeah it is sad all the wild critters deserve thier lives but unfrotunatley there really is no place left in Alberta for grizzlies. The sow likely was on her last wit when he stumbled into her 'refuge'. Ya gotta have the habitat if you want the critters.
Swan Hills Bear Attack
- Thread starter Demonical
- Start date
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
You haven't spent much time in the Grizzly habitat of Alberta then David, it's just like BC. Grande Cache, Resthaven area, all up and down the mountains, all of it is prime Grizzly country and full of them happily milling about their lives. Alberta and BC Grizz country, I've worked and lived in both, are identical. If your post was satirical, my bad I misunderstood. Hope hunting was / is good for you guys up in Liard country.
The sow also died- those cubs will run as fast and hard as they can from human scent I bet you anything.
I believe that gent who wrote those bear attack books......Gary ?? I believe
stated that it takes three generations of bear disposal to rid them of their bad habits.
I could see at least two generations in this case.
Beating a bear, exspecially a mad and pumped up grizzly in close quarters has a taste
of good fortune in it.
My opinion anyways.
stated that it takes three generations of bear disposal to rid them of their bad habits.
I could see at least two generations in this case.
Beating a bear, exspecially a mad and pumped up grizzly in close quarters has a taste
of good fortune in it.
My opinion anyways.
Ardent, Yes it was. Now it is far too fragmented. Your right I have spent NO signifigant time in Alberta (thank god) but I know how to read a map for habitat capability.
Not to toot my own horn but I recall the debate that raged on here leading up to the release of the population estimates in Alberta, my opinion/guess (which was not well recieved especially by some who are posting on this thread) was based on looking at the available habitat and proved to be within 10 percent of the # reported by the Alberta gov based on thier DNA work. I was not happy to be right. You cannot cut a landscape into ribbons and expect it to function as a block, I am aware that there is an eastern slope to the mountains and the bears that are still alive in Alberta are lucky to have it.
The fact that htis guy just 'popped' in to check his game cam tells me he got there on some # of wheels ? If the road/siesmic cut/PL/power transmission corridor had stopped a dozen klicks away would this have happened?
Hunting was great, literally laid in amongst some rams twice (apparently you gotta get up early and stay out late) , wife got a nice caribou and lots of other neato stuff. Heading back for the last 5 days of sheep season right after we squeeze in an LEH moose and take a quick look for elk (man life is hard!)
On topic but different: did anyone hear the CBC interview today with the fellow who had a fatal tangle with a griz out of frt nelson, beyond hilarious worth finding on line. (not funny he got hurt or that the bear died but hilarious cause buddy is so perfectly newfie and keen to get "back after d'moose when they brings his rifle down")
Not to toot my own horn but I recall the debate that raged on here leading up to the release of the population estimates in Alberta, my opinion/guess (which was not well recieved especially by some who are posting on this thread) was based on looking at the available habitat and proved to be within 10 percent of the # reported by the Alberta gov based on thier DNA work. I was not happy to be right. You cannot cut a landscape into ribbons and expect it to function as a block, I am aware that there is an eastern slope to the mountains and the bears that are still alive in Alberta are lucky to have it.
The fact that htis guy just 'popped' in to check his game cam tells me he got there on some # of wheels ? If the road/siesmic cut/PL/power transmission corridor had stopped a dozen klicks away would this have happened?
Hunting was great, literally laid in amongst some rams twice (apparently you gotta get up early and stay out late) , wife got a nice caribou and lots of other neato stuff. Heading back for the last 5 days of sheep season right after we squeeze in an LEH moose and take a quick look for elk (man life is hard!)
On topic but different: did anyone hear the CBC interview today with the fellow who had a fatal tangle with a griz out of frt nelson, beyond hilarious worth finding on line. (not funny he got hurt or that the bear died but hilarious cause buddy is so perfectly newfie and keen to get "back after d'moose when they brings his rifle down")
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
You have been sadly misled, and even as a born and bred BC'er who's spent a mere 4 years Alberta side, Alberta has some the of the beautiful mountain terrain in the country. Much of it outdoes most of our BC stuff as the mountains in Alberta are just that- real, huge, Rocky mountains. The Grizz terrain is extensive and most of us had a good laugh at the Alberta survey. They essentially omitted more than half the province due to "constraints" of some form or other, typically $ or personnel I'm sure. The company I used to work for flew CO's in northern Alberta who routinely relocated and dealt with Grizzlies that officially didn't exist, in Grizzly "free" areas. There are an awful lot of Grizzlies in Alberta too. They are just plain too elusive to count or survey.
I truthfully don't think BC is any different, and is every bit as fragmented (I see it from the air, I fly helicopters in Northern BC for a living). BC just plain has more habitat suited to Grizzlies by a huge fold.
I truthfully don't think BC is any different, and is every bit as fragmented (I see it from the air, I fly helicopters in Northern BC for a living). BC just plain has more habitat suited to Grizzlies by a huge fold.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
...and careful not to be too "us and them" with BC and Alberta- we're just one big beautiful chunk of a continent coast to coast with arbitrary lines. Only difference between BC and Alberta is one has better politics and taxes / wages, the other a coast and more mountains! 
I love both.
I love both. 
This sign is on the main road heading into our hunting territory.
^ That mauling took place about 5 kms from this sign. I'd say it's accurate!
Based on the number of grizzly sightings our operations personnel report, in the gas-oilfield, the bears aren't too concerned about 'fragmented' country. All they care about is food!
We see more grizzlies every year, in the Swan Hills. I've seen 'em along Hwy 32, feeding in the ditch, crossing the highway... this just while going back-and-forth to work; and as far south as 1 km from the Casino, down near hwy 43... and of course all up around our main operations area.
I've seen every colour grizz' you could want in the Swan Hills too; jet black, dark brown, 'standard' silver tip, blond, etc...
I am certain the population estimate was fudged, because too many grizzlies would force the Gov't to make a politically unpopular move, which would be to re-introduce a limited hunt, whereas too low a number would cause the Gov't to declare them threatened (and that would harm resource dev't).
So the Gov't 'worked' the numbers to arrive at a number that wouldn't permit a hunt, nor threaten resource development.
arcticcathonda
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
While we are at it, we should kill the rest of dem' bears too! You know.... Just in case they try some funny business later on.
Biggunners
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- MOSTLY LOSTED
Good for the fellow
2 Different guys reporting the same bear does not make 2 bears. Luckily we do not rely on gas field operators to determine signifigance. Ever have a bear biologist show up and tell you when to send a pig down a line? Ever wonder why a bear biologist does'nt draw up your maintenance schedule? Here is a hint: Cause they do not know s**t about compressors and dehydrators. Even though they do enjoy the quick clean heat of natural gas furnaces they are not qualified or properly trained to make any sense of the working of the upstream industry. If they are like me they have just enough knowledge to be dangerous but not enough to help when things go sideways.
Not sure why many Albertans are more concerned with the perception of plenty then with the conservation of the resource (Bears) but if thinking you have a sustainable population of Grizzlies over even a small fraction of thier historic range makes you feel better then who am I to wonder if maybe more attention should be paid to preserving Alberta's natural heritage. You will always have a national park or 2 so that should cover it. It is not an insult to observe indiffrently from afar that there are challanges to maintaining grizzly populations. If in fact you do have 'enough' bears to be contented how would taking a closer critical look at land use practices and habitat conservation harm the bears???? Let me know how you make out on your Alberta grizzly hunt LOL
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Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The pilots where I work actually see more Grizzlies on the Alberta side of the border in the border region, I presume due to no season/draw, the terrain is identical. Just be cautious David, by your own admission Alberta is a place you are not familiar with, and there are far more Grizzlies there than the rah rah BC crowd would care to admit (I was shamelessly one before getting to know Alberta well).
BC by nearly every environmental department's own admission is light years behind Alberta on enforcement and so forth, likely because we have less funding. The BC Oil & Gas Commission is largely ex-Forestry guys who often don't seem to know what they're looking at, unbelievable stuff passes. The Albertan equivalent holds much sharper pencils and teeth as one example. The Albertan sites are as a general rule cleaner as well than BC, I see a lot more spills etc on our side. Alberta has put aside more of its Grizzly habitat by percentage than BC by a hugefold, as well. Yes, BC has far greater habitat and putting aside an equal proportion would likely be not feasible, but it is an interesting characteristic as well.
Lastly, don't buy all the propaganda and anti-Alberta BS you hear on the news. The vast majority of Alberta is intact wilderness no different than BC with its gazillion forest service, mining, and recreation trails. I just note an extremist tone, and a lack of personal experience in the region, in your posts and one must always be wary when they enter that territory. I've been there myself only to stand smartly corrected! Finally, lets not forget BC itself had closed its Grizzly hunt just a decade ago.
BC by nearly every environmental department's own admission is light years behind Alberta on enforcement and so forth, likely because we have less funding. The BC Oil & Gas Commission is largely ex-Forestry guys who often don't seem to know what they're looking at, unbelievable stuff passes. The Albertan equivalent holds much sharper pencils and teeth as one example. The Albertan sites are as a general rule cleaner as well than BC, I see a lot more spills etc on our side. Alberta has put aside more of its Grizzly habitat by percentage than BC by a hugefold, as well. Yes, BC has far greater habitat and putting aside an equal proportion would likely be not feasible, but it is an interesting characteristic as well.
Lastly, don't buy all the propaganda and anti-Alberta BS you hear on the news. The vast majority of Alberta is intact wilderness no different than BC with its gazillion forest service, mining, and recreation trails. I just note an extremist tone, and a lack of personal experience in the region, in your posts and one must always be wary when they enter that territory.
I've been there myself only to stand smartly corrected! Finally, lets not forget BC itself had closed its Grizzly hunt just a decade ago. I am pretty sure the raw data is available, I am sure you make you claim based on a review of that data?
Not saying that fudging data is beyond the capacity of the Alberta gov when conservation/health/sustainability are at issue but in this case it does not matter the quantity and quality of habitat is the long term limiting factor. It does not mean a rats ass how many 10 year old bears you have today. It matters how many 3 year old bears you are destined to have in 20 years.
LOL
Look at your flight log I bet your hours in the air almost equal the number of water, fish, wildlife related permits I have pulled out of the OGC, your standby hours likely equal the # I have turned around in less then 72 hours. I am mr linear corridor expediator, Alot of what you see from the air in NEBC is almost 10 years of my handi work. Intimately familiar with how sharp who's pencils are.
And that is why smart companies hire smart guys to educate em.
enuff bears gotta get out and shoot some geese
cheers all
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I don't think he means they lied, even the CO's I've talked to Alberta side said there is "no question" the survey was very flawed. They didn't lie, they simply omitted. I do it all the time with the wife.
I talked to a guy at work today that says be know this guy so I got a little more info about it. From what he says the reason he was able to shoot the bear so many times is he was packing a handgun with him and he is going to be charged. Not sure if its true but he said the hunter is his family threw marriage.
