Charges of poaching laid in Alberta grizzly bear death

Before he was shot and killed in Edson, Alta., the young male grizzly bear travelled up to 40 kilometres a day looking for the best places to find berries, moose calves and mates, and live out his life.

But on May 26, at about the age of about four or five years old, that lifecame to a sudden end when he was shot and killed in a province where a ban on grizzly bear hunting has been in place for a decade.

"It's a tragedy," said Hinton veterinarian and wildlife photographer Gary Gulash, one of the last humans to see the grizzly alive on the side of the highway a few days before his death. "I wish all people could appreciate the wildlife that we still have remaining here in this province."

Two men fromEdsonand FortMcMurrayhave been charged with unlawful possession of wildlife. One of the men faces additional charges of hunting wildlife during a closed season and providing false information to an officer.

Researchers from FRI Researchhad been trackingthe movements of G141, as the bear was known, since he was collared in the spring.

Last month, when his collar stopped transmittinginformation, officials launched asearch and found his carcass in theEdsonarea.

"It obviously affects our ability to recover grizzly bears in this province," said research scientistGordStenhouse.

G141 was one of about 20 bearsbeing tracked byhis research team but Stenhouse saida lot ofinformation around his circumstances cannot beshared while the case is before the courts.

He said G141was ayoung adult bear, who had recently become independent.

"Attheir third year they kind of get kicked out," said Stenhouse. "It's like inhumans we have to go find our own apartment or place to live. Inbears, they have to go find their own home range, which is usually outside the mother's home range wherethey grew up."

Gulashcame upon G141grazing on dandelions and vegetation in a ditch by the road south of Hinton, about 59 kilometres northeast of Jasper.

"I was impressed this bear was in very good body condition and had a really nice coat," said Gulash.

"Some bears are more attractive than others this was a good-looking bear. He had a really nice pelt and was in prime condition, young and healthy."

He said the animal didn't seem too bothered by the presence of the growing crowd of admirers who expressed concern for his wellbeing near the highway.

"That was a concern 'I hope he stays out of trouble,'" said Gulash. "And wouldn't you know it, this is unbelievable that his life would be ended so soon. It's a tragedy."

The province designated grizzly bears a threatened species under Alberta's Wildlife Act and hunting was suspended in 2006.

The two menwill appear in an Edson courtroom on Aug.16th.

andrea.huncar@cbc.ca

@andreahuncar