Legendary grizzly 'The Boss' and other Alberta bears emerging from winter dens

Brendan Coulter · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 12, 2025 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

The Boss is awake and acceptable for different twelvemonth of munching grains and tromping astir the Bow Valley.

Banff National Park's iconic ascendant grizzly bear, officially known arsenic carnivore No. 122, was spotted by Parks Canada unit successful the little Bow Valley connected Monday. 

Alberta's bears typically look from their wintertime dens passim April and May, according to Alberta Forestry and Parks, and an expanding fig of sighting are being reported.

With lukewarm upwind successful the forecast for overmuch of Alberta and much bears leaving their dens daily, the state issued a information alert connected Friday, urging hikers and backcountry users to beryllium cautious and program ahead.  

"We inquire everyone enjoying Alberta's trails, parks and large outdoors to beryllium alert," Alberta's Minister of Forestry and Parks Todd Loewen said successful a quality release. 

"Bear information is simply a shared responsibility, and elemental precautions tin assistance forestall superior encounters."

Reports of progressive bears are coming successful from astir the province, said John Paczkowski, quality wildlife coexistence squad pb with Alberta Forestry and Parks.

"Some radical are inactive retired determination skiing and snowshoeing, going to the backcountry. But it's clip to, you know, particulate disconnected your carnivore spray," helium said. "Make definite you're carrying carnivore spray [and] cognize however to usage it."

Paczkowski besides recommends those spending clip extracurricular question successful groups, marque plentifulness of noise, negociate attractants similar garbage and leash their dogs.

Big males head to vale bottoms to find food

Bear No. 122 was photographed by a distant camera connected Monday. 

It's nary astonishment that The Boss, who successful the past has been estimated to measurement 450 pounds, is among the archetypal grizzlies spotted successful the country this spring, according to conservationists. 

Large antheral bears typically look from their dens first, followed by azygous females — females with cubs bring up the rear, said WildSmart programme manager Nick de Ruyter.

He said the chances of encountering a carnivore are highest astatine this clip of year, with earthy nutrient sources inactive scarce.

"They're hungry, they're looking for food. Because there's snowfall up high, the lone nutrient they tin find is successful the vale bottoms," said de Ruyter.

"So, we're sharing this finite abstraction successful the vale bottoms with bears and different wildlife: elk and cervid and cougars and wolves and coyotes."

During the outpouring months, bears typically provender connected carcasses, grasses, dandelions and different plants, helium added.

"Unfortunately, greenish writer and dandelions turn successful backyards, playgrounds, parks, sports fields, on trails, on highways. And that's wherefore besides the springtime is other unsafe for wildlife," said de Ruyter.

De Ruyter and Paczkowski are among those sharing carnivore information accusation Saturday astatine Bear Day, an acquisition lawsuit happening astatine the Canmore Nordic Centre Day Lodge.

Anyone who shows up tin signifier spraying carnivore spray, larn astir carnivore behaviour and ticker a carnivore trapping demonstration.

The state says carnivore sightings oregon unsafe wildlife enactment tin beryllium reported to Fish and Wildlife by calling 1-800-642-3800.

Banff National Park said country closures whitethorn beryllium implemented as carnivore enactment ramps up. Active closures volition beryllium posted online.