quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
As the bear population increases the number of attacks increase.

quote:

Originally posted by sage:

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
As the bear population increases the number of attacks increase.

No as the number of humans in the bush increases the chance of attacks increase.

quote:

Originally posted by Angus Morrison:
Alberta's resource roads literally everywhere including the mountains, and the ATV use explosion has really changed things. I have had a birds eye view in the day job of the grizzly habitats in Alberta for a good while, we used to live in Grande Cache and have acreage on the edge of the rocks south of Calgary. All along that corridor except for the park are ATVs, it's Alberta's most popular pastime, in my eyes sadly.

This said that's an Alberta focus in a western Canadian thread, in BC we're seeing a big increase in the same type of backcountry usage, but not like Alberta. There are however a lot more inexperienced people venturing out in this era of reality survival shows, hunting shows, explosion of large outdoor sports stores franchises etc. Not a bad thing, just a reality, and it comes with downsides, bear incidents are one of the inevitable ones. Not saying the victims here were inexperienced, I knew the BC sheep hunters by association (good friend's friends) and they're very experienced. But there is a surge of hunters heading afield these days compared to recent declines in past decades, and with recovering grizzly numbers, the mix will produce attacks. I'm all for both the bear recovery and more hunters, to be clear, the attacks are an unfortunate byproduct.

Of course as Skyline said it's certainly a combination of factors, not one single thing. I actually do believe the Grizzlies in Alberta could be doing a lot better, as even in just five years I noted a decline in bears spotted as roads and ATVs push further. I also think more bears are dying both reported and unreported at the hands of inexperienced folks armed in the backcountry, this one really bothers me. Most hunters I meet a lot of hunters, some accomplished, that say if a bear moves at them it gets lead, part of me understands. Then I talk to fishing guides on the north BC coast who conversationally admit they've been bluff charged by grizzlies multiple times on the river during the salmon runs, they understand it's just bear communication 99% of the time. I'm spiralling off course and seeding arguments I can sense it!

Just hope to see more hunting opportunities, more experienced people in the bush and less ATVs, and more grizzly bears. Potentially impossible dreams these days.