Capture of marauding Alberta grizzly spurs relocation debate

Fish and Wildlife officers’ discovery of a mammoth grizzly bear in southern Alberta has renewed a debate on dealing with the threatened species. Last month, officers transported a 250-kilogram, adult male grizzly bear from Chain Lakes to Grande Cache after complaints calves had been attacked. However, a conservation specialist said Tuesday that relocating grizzlies “isn’t fixing any problems.” “There’s often a root problem,” said Nigel Douglas with the Alberta Wilderness Association. “What’s attracting the bear there in the first place?” Douglas said. “All we’re seeing is blame the bear and take it away.” In April, Officers were called about 130 kilometres south of Calgary on reports a calf was fatally bitten by canine teeth. Another calf carcass belonging to the same livestock producer turned up dead days later. The bear was eventually caught, tagged with an ear tracer and inner-nostril microchip and had a DNA sample extracted, according to a report from the Alberta Solicitor General and Public Safety office. Twenty-four bears were relocated in 2011, according to provincial reports. That’s up from 15 in 2010 and 19 in 2009...more

Not much of an article, but dang, I sure wanted to post that picture.