BANFF – By now all grizzly bears are tucked in their dens hibernating for the winter, but those fighting to help keep them safe are getting little rest.
This past week it was revealed four new members of the dwindling Alberta population were killed.
Two mother bears were spotted with cubs in June and a month later they were seen wandering solo.
This time, it wasn’t a car or a train that killed the little cubs.
“Looks like all four of those cubs were killed during the spring breeding season, likely by a large adult male grizzly bear,” says Steve Michel with Parks Canada.
It’s not unusual for an adult male bear to kill cubs in order to mate with the mother. But it is not common for two litters to be wiped out in one season.
“Both of those bears were expected they would be good mothers. They are wary and stay away from human facilities. This is definitely a blow to the bear population here in Banff.”
It’s estimated there are only 60 grizzly bears in Banff National Park and 700 total in Alberta.
Last summer two male grizzly bears were killed on park highways.
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