Clayton Lamb with the University of British Columbia says efforts need to be made to reduce collisions and human conflict for the local bear population to be sustained. (Laura Smit)
Report authors estimate only about one-third of human-caused mortalities not involving conservation officers are reported to authorities.
“Grizzly bear mortality in the Elk Valley due to collisions and conflicts with people is an order of magnitude greater than elsewhere in British Columbia,” reads the report.
In Elk Valley, there was an average of 65.3 conflicts between bears and people per 10,000 square kilometres per year, compared to less than six across the rest of B.C.
The report concludes that efforts must be made to keep both bears and people safer in the valley.
Tools suggested include bear-aware training for people in the area, as well as securing attractants and maintaining electric fences.
One grizzly was killed by a landowner while she was attacking their pigs, according to the report.The landowner had an electric fence but it had shorted out because vegetation was growing up against it.
For its part, the B.C. government broke ground in 2020 on an infrastructure project that aims to fence 27 kilometres of Highway 3 and create wildlife crossings. The report shows crossing structures are used regularly by bears in Banff National Park and, when combined with fencing, can reduce wildlife mortality by up to 96 per cent.
CBC reached out to the Ministry of Transportation for details on that project and when completion is expected. The ministry did not respond by deadline.