Grizzlies attack Calgary-area donkey ranch

CALGARY – Deborrah Killam thought her nightmare was over when provincial officials said they caught the bear responsible for killing one of her miniature donkeys on her Sundre ranch Friday.

So it was to her horror that, on Sunday morning, she woke up to one more missing animal –a prized rare breed worth $30,000–from a herd of 22.

"They (the donkeys) were pretty high-strung this morning, " Killam recalled. "And that’s not normal because they’re normally docile. Some babies had diarrhea on their legs. So I did a count, and there were, of course, only 21."

The gruesome realization was part of a costly weekend for Killam’s Black Mountain Miniature ranch, which suffered losses of more than$50,000 this weekend after bear attacks left two animals dead.

What’s worse, Killam said, is the fact officials from Alberta Fish and Wildlife said she would not get compensation for her loss, nor can she shoot the bears–risking fines of up to $100,000 and five years in jail.

"They said I can’t get compensation because they are not meat animals," Killam said.

Dave Ealey, spokesman for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development –which includes the fish and wildlife division–said crews were called to the ranch north of Sundre late Friday after Killam came home to find a blood trail on her property to a partially buried carcass.

Ealey said neighbours about three kilometres from the scene had reported bear issues with livestock earlier in the week, and crews set up snares to catch the animal–suspected to be a grizzly.

A bear was caught early Saturday morning, and crews left assuming they got the offending animal, Ealey said–before the second attack happened.

"At the time (of the capture), when we compared the paw prints with the animal, we thought it was very similar, and there was a good chance we got the right one," he said. "Now, as far as we know, it’s two bears. There’s no doubt there are two bears in the area."

Ealey said this is an especially busy time for fish and wildlife crews, since bears are actively foraging to prepare for winter.

"Our guys are being run off their feet," he said. "It’s that time of year, and people need to be aware of it and do things to help minimize the risk of attracting bears."

Among the things a rural property owner can do include increased monitoring, the use of guard animals and the elimination of easy food sources.

"Bears are just as likely to go after feed as they are to go after animals," Ealey said. "And they may have gone after the donkeys when they come after that. They may even come after dog food left in the open."

As for compensation, Ealey said the province does compensate for confirmed bear kills–although he is unsure what the specific procedure or amount is for less-common farm species such as miniature donkeys.

Ranch owner Killam said the attacks have left her shaken, since she views the donkeys as her family.

"They’re my little angels," she said, noting that the animals got her through tough times a decade ago, when a car crash left her badly injured and killed her son. "I don’t think(Fish and Wildlife) understand that."

Beyond the emotional loss, the financial loss is also severe, Killam said. Mystique, the female killed Sunday, was the only one of its kind in Canada, she said.

That status puts the animal’s price at $30,000, with future offspring potentially worth $10,000 each. The other donkey, Sadie, was worth about $25,000.

Killam added she is also not happy that fish and wildlife failed to inform her of nearby bear incidents. Killam said she is now concerned about the safety of her nine-year-old daughter on the ranch, since the bear attacks happened close to a main road –close to human activity.

Ealey said crews usually warn neighbours if a bear attack happens, and it is unclear why Killam wasn’t notified.

Crews remained on the lookout for the bear responsible for the donkey attacks Sunday evening.