A female grizzly bear injured after trying to break into vehicles in Kananskis Country’ s Mount Kidd RV Park has been captured and euthanized by Alberta Parks staff. The 23-year-old sow, known as Bear No.
A female grizzly bear injured after trying to break into vehicles in Kananskis Country’ s Mount Kidd RV Park has been captured and euthanized by Alberta Parks staff.
The 23-year-old sow, known as Bear No. 88 since she was first captured in 2002, had a history of breaking into vehicles, trailers and camps.
Parks ecologist John Paczkowski said DNA testing confirmed the bear trapped on Wednesday (Nov. 4) this past week is the same one that injured itself trying to break into an unoccupied camper at the RV park on Oct. 26 and damaged another vehicle earlier in the month, ripping off the bumper and a side mirror.
“We determined it was 88 because we collected hair and blood samples from places she attacked vehicles and the trailer,” Paczkowski said. “A geneticist confirmed 100 per cent it was her.
“It is important for people to know this is not just a bear that has knocked over a few garbage cans, it is a bear that tried to access human occupied trailers.”
When 88 was originally collared in 2002 it was after an incident where she broke into a trailer in the Little Elbow area of Kananaskis Country. Paczkowski said she had cubs at the time and was let go in her natural home range.
“She was a very wary bear after that, we didn’ t have any issues from her,” he added.
Her collar fell off sometime around 2008, Paczkowski said and she was recaptured in 2010 as part of a research project and again she had two cubs with her at the time. The next time she was observed was on a wildlife camera in 2012 and up until this most recent incident has not been sighted.
Paczkowski said while she was in OK shape physically when captured in 2010, her teeth were “pretty worn.” A necropsy this week by two University of Calgary veterinarians found her teeth were severely worn down, in some places all the way to the gum line.
“In addition to being worn down, many of her canines were cracked,” he said. “Her teeth were in terrible shape. That was probably a limiting factor in her ability to get food. It is a pretty important tool for bears to have teeth and without teeth it probably added to her food stress and contributed to the incident.”
To avoid a surprise encounter with a bear:
•Make plenty of noise and travel in groups.
•Be aware of your surroundings. Look and listen for bears and their signs.
•Keep your pets on a leash.
•Carry bear spray, make sure it’ s easily accessible and know how to use it.
For hunters to minimize their chance of a surprise encounter with a bear, they are advised to:
•Ensure food and other attractants are not stored in your tent, including clothes that may have been used during cooking or hunting if blood soiled.
•Food, carcasses and other attractants must be hung from a tree inaccessible to bears (3.5 metres above ground and 1.5 metres from nearby trees, and at least 100 metres from any tents or sleeping area).
•Carry bear spray, make sure it’ s easily accessible and know how to use it.
•Hunt with others.
•Be cautious when tracking a wounded animal.
•When approaching a kill site use caution, approach from upwind, use binoculars to check if the site is clear and make as much noise as possible.
•When field dressing a carcass, make noise and have someone stand watch while you handle the carcass.
Report all bear sightseeing to 403-591-7755.
