Southwestern Alberta residents have expressed concern about growing grizzly bear, black bear and wolf and cougar populations, the increasing frequency of conflicts with large carnivores and the impacts of large carnivores on local livelihoods and community safety.
The Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association has worked successfully to promote peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife in the Waterton Biosphere Region through its Carnivores and Communities Program (CACP). Alberta’s government is proud to continue supporting this program by investing $700,000 over five years, with a $160,000 contribution in 2023-24 and $135,000 annually for the subsequent four years.
“Coexisting with wildlife, including large carnivores, is an everyday part of living and working in rural Alberta. The Carnivores and Communities Program is making a difference for farmers, ranchers and landowners in the Waterton Biosphere Region and this investment will help protect humans, wildlife and infrastructure.”
Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks
The CACP takes a community-based approach, working with Albertans living in the area to reduce primary agriculture attractants by managing dead livestock and bee yards, and securing facilities for grain, feed and garbage while ensuring both people and carnivores have a place on the land. Initiatives under the CACP include the Deadstock Removal Program, on-farm carcass composting, electric fence installation, wildlife attractant reduction and bear safety training for ranch families.