Calgary Grizzly Bear Deaths have hit 29 for the year, twice the number of last year,,,,,,,,,,,,,and the highest death total of the last decade..........The Griz population of this region continues to shrink with an estimated 700 or so Bears still remaining............The advocacy Group, YELLOWSTONE TO YUKON is calling on the Province to update and implement a Grizzly management plan that will minimize human caused deaths caused by road collisions and infrastructure building............

http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Province+urged
+boost+protection+grizzlies/9202572/story.html

Province urged to boost protection 
of grizzlies

BY COLETTE DERWORIZ, CALGARY HERALD NOVEMBER 22, 2013

The deaths of 29 grizzly bears in Alberta in 2013, nearly double last year’s deaths and the highest number in a decade, has sparked calls for the province to increase protection for the threatened species through a land-use plan that is currently receiving public input.

Photograph by: Herald files , Parks Canada

CANMORE — The high number of grizzly bear deaths in Alberta this year points to a need for the province to fully implement its own grizzly bear recovery plan, say conservation and education groups.

Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development has so far recorded 29 grizzly bear deaths across the province — almost twice last year’s deaths and the highest number in a decade.

“It’s shocking and disappointing to hear,” said Kim Titchener, program director with Wildsmart, which works to reduce conflicts between people and wildlife in the Bow Valley.

“It shows that there is a real need to not only have a great recovery plan for grizzlies, but also some really great outreach and financial support put toward working with communities across Alberta to reduce these conflicts and mortality rates.”

It’s still unknown how many of this year’s deaths were caused by humans (some of the cases are still under investigation), but the province’s carnivore specialist Nathan Webb said the majority will be due to some type of conflict between a bear and a person.

It led to calls Friday for the province to immediately use its own recovery plan to protect the remaining population. “There’s an incredible opportunity right now to implement that through the land-use plan,” said Karsten Heuer, president of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative.

Alberta is in the midst of public input on a draft land-use plan to guide future decisions on development, recreation and conservation for all of southern Alberta.

Heuer said there’s clearly a need for prompt action on grizzly bears.

“The numbers are pointing to something other than the status quo,” he said. “The whole grizzly bear recovery plan has been this document that has languished since 2008.”

There are only about 700 grizzly bears left in Alberta, leading the province to develop its recovery plan and list them as a threatened species in 2010.

Webb said this week that the province is working to implement the recommendations in the plan, but he noted that conflicts are increasing as the population grows and more people are out on the landscape.

The recovery plan is currently being rewritten by the province and a draft is expected sometime next year.