worked closely with WRBI Director Carrie Hunt since WRBI introduced the program to Alberta in 1999.  WRBI and KBSIC continue to work closely to implement the Partners-In-Life program in Canada.

KBSIC is directly involved in educational programming and is continuing the field research in Bear Shepherding initiated by WRBI in southwest Alberta. WRBI teaches Bear Shepherding Courses and conducts on-site consultations and training in Canada. KBSIC staff is certified annually by WRBI to safely and effectively conduct any bear shepherding associated with field research projects in Canada.

What’s happening in Alberta?

WRBI’s Partners-in-Life program continues to operate in SW Alberta, in an ongoing collaboration with KBSIC, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (ASRD), Alberta Community Development (ACD), and the town of Canmore.  The purpose of this initiative is to emphasize collaborative community involvement, in addition to working with government personnel and private entities that live, work, and/or recreate in bear habitat to reduce bear human conflict. KBSIC has begun to implement a strategy to secure sustainable private and corporate funding for the future in order to establish a sustainable program in Canada, beginning in Alberta.

Historically, WRBI’s work in Alberta has been in collaboration with ASRD and CD Officers and focused on monitoring and working collared grizzly bears in the Bow and Kananaskis Regions. Bear Proofing and anthropogenic attractant reduction continues to steadily improve throughout the region.  As a result, bear habituation tends to stem from natural foods and people presence rather than unnatural food conditioning. Many of these bears are curious sub adult grizzlies. Roadside bear jams are common in the Bow and Kananaskis valleys. The main food source for bears in late July through fall is Buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis) which brings bears into the valley bottoms. As a result, bear human interactions increase particularly with mountain bikers and hikers. Areas such as Peter Lougheed Provincial Park are able to support a large population of bears in a relatively small area. It also happens to be one of the busiest parks in the province during the summer/ fall seasons.

In an effort to expand the use and proper application of WRBI’s methods, two Bear Shepherding courses have been conducted for ASRD and CD personnel. Additionally, there have been numerous public presentations and demonstrations, intended to promote public involvement.

Download Southwest Alberta Bear Management Program Flyer

For further information on Grizzly Bears in Alberta:

Supporters (in alphabetical order)
Alberta Community Development – www.cd.gov.ab.ca
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development – http://www.srd.gov.ab.ca/
Bow Valley Wildsmart - http://www.bvwildsmart.ca/
Karelian Bear Shepherding Institute of Canada - http://www.bearconflict.org/

Individual Donations
Lawrence Grassi Middle School
Mountain Bones Nutrition for Dogs
Nature Conservancy of Canada – www.natureconservancy.ca
Wendy P. McCaw Foundation
Wind River Bear Institute

Donations (non-tax deductible) to support the KBSIC in Alberta may be sent to:

Karelian Bear Shepherding Institute of Canada
Attn: Executive Director
313 8 Avenue
Canmore, Alberta T1W 2E6

For further information contact:

Wind River Bear Institute: www.beardogs.org

Karelian Bear Shepherding Institute of Canada, email: kbsic@telus.net