In the Cross Hairs: The Road to Recovery for Alberta's Threatened Grizzly Bears

In the Crosshairs: The Road to Recovery for Alberta's Threatened Grizzly Bears is an EXPOSED Wildlife Conservancy production in association with the Grizzly Bear Foundation. The documentary focuses on grizzly bear recovery and the threat of a grizzly hunt returning in the province of Alberta, Canada.
Use your voice to help safeguard the grizzly bear’s future in Alberta. Tell the provincial government that it’s time to take action for our threatened grizzlies today.
Write Your Representative: www.exposedwil...
The majestic grizzly bear is an iconic symbol of the wild and a cherished part of Alberta's cultural identity. As an umbrella species, their protection benefits biodiversity and ecosystem conservation across the wide landscapes they roam.
Grizzly bears have been classified as a Threatened species in Alberta since 2010. New research data released in March 2021 showing an increase in Alberta's grizzly populations are cause for hope, but the road to recovery is far from over. With a population estimate well below the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s criteria for threatened status, Alberta grizzlies are clearly a species at risk.
The combined impacts of habitat loss, food security issues, coexistence challenges, and the climate crisis continue to put enormous pressure on recovering grizzly bear populations.
‍Now more than ever, we need the Alberta government to fund and implement their Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan in its entirety. The future of Alberta's grizzlies depends on it.
‍Of all the challenges grizzlies face on the road to recovery, hunting is the one source of human-caused mortality we can control. As part of the Recovery Plan we urge the provincial government to commit to a continued ban on grizzly bear hunting in Alberta.
Join Us In Giving Our Wild Life A Voice!

[@Sebastian-px8rz]

Same thing happening in Montana. Our governor and legislators tried to remove grizzly bears from the endangered species list and suggested we trophy hunt them. Also legislators are putting out laws to remove up to 85% of our wolves. It’s sickens me to watch it unfold down here.

[@john660]

It's sickening, indeed.

[@clinttrost5743]

@@Sebastian-px8rz you obviously live in the city how about you quit eating so we can give the food to the bears and wolfs farmers barely making it so let’s let the wildlife make him totally broke and ask any family of people who have died from bears or attacked by bears if they think there should be more of them maybe if a grizzly starts eating you alive I bet you change your attitude

[@FernandoOrtiz-kl1ux]

Years ago Mexican Grizzlies were hunted until they became extinct. The same thing happened in many parts of the US. I´m glad to see there are people willing to speak up for wildlife. Great documentary!

[@john660]

Thank you Fernando. I spend quite a bit of time in Mexico and often wonder what it would be like to still have grizzlies roaming down there.

[@theCosmicQueen]

people are much safer as a result. they are no longer needed.

[@twostop6895]

@@theCosmicQueen lol

[@noblestor8089]

@@theCosmicQueen You're wrong, grizzlies are an important predator species everywhere they live. They arent even that dangerous to humans, every year in north america grizzlies and black bears combined kill less than 5 people. You're fear mongering the danger to the environment from them being extinct is more of a threat to us than attacks on humans by them. Your car is more likely to kill you than a bear

[@john660]

@@theCosmicQueen do you mean that people are no longer needed? Lol.

[@RichardBirchett]

Superb Documentary John, I’ve been following this for many years now and to see all the progress made by so many dedicated people including yourself to see it becoming undone is Lunacy, and should never happen! May science prevail over emotion! Top work. Richard (UK)

[@jimcl5432]

what a great inspiring and compasionate perspective on our Alberta Grizzly bear

[@john660]

Thank you so much Jim!

[@paulajgl399]

I was in Jasper last week for first time. Part of me will stay in that amazing land forever. The most incredible thing about that is all the species are living there. I had not the opportunity to see any grizzly but a moose with her calf. I honestly appreciate this videos to raise the voice againts those ones who want hunt again just for that momentary adrenaline. Thank you for raising awareness about the wonder that these animals are and giving a voice to the entire organization that is working to continue conserving grizzly bears🙏

[@john660]

Thank you Paula!

[@colleengara463]

Fantastic documentary John and Exposed team!!

[@john660]

Thanks Colleen!!

[@luxrex5753]

i recently visited jasper national park, and was blown away at how much wildlife there was! i hope banff and all other national parks become a wild safe haven, just like jasper. great documentary john. We must protect these beautiful animals!

[@lylegrisedale656]

Well Done John, keep up the great work

[@john660]

Thanks Lyle! Hope you're doing well.

[@LightBear7]

Thanks so much to everyone who put this great documentary together. Hopefully rational action and thought will prevail and the grizzly bears will be protected in Alberta, BC and everywhere else.

[@john660]

Thank you, we could not agree more.

[@Pacificnorthwestkate]

Inspiring video John 👍❤️👊 great work!!

[@JohKemStYl3]

I bought your book (what bears teach us) when it came out and I really like it. I hope they don’t allow any type of hunting of bears. Sadly, since I am from Europe, I cannot do more than buying your books or donating. I still wish you the best in your efforts and thank you so much for your great work and this nice documentary.

[@jordanmotruk5827]

Thank you for this impartial investigation.

[@chuckmorton8823]

Protect Alberta's grizzly bears!!!

[@john660]

Totally agree, Chuck.

[@suejohnston5827]

Beautiful documentary on these magnificent animals. We must commit to stopping the hunting of this magnificent species.

[@john660]

Absolutely.

[@kermittherapper564]

Excellent work and very informative. You are so talented and I love seeing your work.

[@Bella.216]

We need to keep the numbers balanced. The population growth can't be supported while our population grows. It can't work

[@twostop6895]

lol

[@jayothecapo5137]

@@Bryan-dn1nxyour mental

[@dannynash5713]

John thank you for this hugely informative film and the beautiful images! I agree there is nothing sensible in the killing of grizzlies anywhere. Superbly done! 👏👏👏👏

[@john660]

Thanks Danny

[@dmmchugh3714]

Your photographic talent and artistic eye are everything! It's great how use these gifts to defend - as well as glorify- the wildlife. PS: a few years back you had a video on what was in your kit. That's been my example for my (very) amateur photography hobby.

[@john660]

so glad you enjoyed it DM! Thank you!

[@tammymckenzie1766]

I learned alot after seeing your video. I've always admired all the bears of any kind. I was thrilled to learn how important they to our environment. Needless to say, I'm going to share this video and ask to continue sharing. Surely as we learn more people will have a change of heart for these magnificent animals. Hopefully the Government will listen to the people and not let hunting these Grizzlies become lawful. Thankyou for sharing with us your knowledge, Sincerely ,Tammy McKenzie, of Santa Anna ,Texas.

[@lornewilliams8337]

Such a great documentary! Keep up the good work!

[@john660]

Thank you Lorne!

[@Jerseymikephoto]

Your best production to date! Thank you for your conservation efforts and the amazing content.

[@john660]

Thank you, we really appreciate that!

[@MelKomus]

Excellent documentary! Very informative!

[@GaborRuff]

Excellent documentary, John. It's obvious that science doesn't support the need for hunting. Apex predators rarely need to be managed, that's how nature works. I hope grizzlies remain protected.

[@john660]

Thank you Gabor

[@twostop6895]

Alberta is full of poachers, Grizzly Bears from Montana's Glacier National Park in the US disperse into Alberta to be poached, Alberta is Canada's worst province

[@i_am_x_wild]

Glad to see ur back! I stumbled upon this channel at the time of your last video a year ago. Keep up the great work!

[@john660]

As you can see, we've moved into longer documentaries, so this one took us a little longer!

[@i_am_x_wild]

@@john660 And I totally dig the longer format style!!!!

[@acahmak]

Excellent film. Thanks!! I'll do whatever I can from the US.

[@john660]

Thank you!

[@eggsbrenny]

This is exactly what is needed - a scientific approach that considers the animals for their own value rather than the current hunter-centric approach. It was particularly interesting to see the results of DNA modelling in Hinton that proved there were only 43 bears whereas the best guess had been 157. This is the kind of management that most Canadians are calling for.

[@john660]

Agreed.

[@AntonRiley]

An excellent short, informative, important and timely documentary. Thank you! I am not persuaded by any of the arguments put forward in favour of “Trophy Hunting” (or any other forms of hunting that are referred to as “sport”). It is beyond belief that some people try to rationalise this type of ego-driven activity. I have added my voice to the campaign. Let’s hope that the politicians are listening.

[@john660]

Thank you Anton

[@DavidMercer]

Good documentary. You make a very strong case for keeping grizzlies safe from hunting ... hard to imagine why the AB government would want to do otherwise. Keep up the great work!

[@john660]

Thank you!

[@cecilmerrittfud]

Documentary failed to take in the fact that males kill their own offspring so they can again mate with a female. Did you or anyone in this Documentary talk about this well known fact ?? No...

[@donnanichols6838]

I think trophy hunting of any animal whether endangered or not should be illegal.. Its selfish, cruel and thoughtless to kill an animal just to put them on display!!!

[@MehdiMirian]

Excellent documentary, spectacular shots. All my best to you and your team to fight these mad people.

[@john660]

Thank you!

[@jimmyblower]

Hunting in Alberta (and all of North America in fact) is highly regulated in order to ensure that species remain at sustainable levels. Once it is determined what the social carrying capacity of grizzly bears in Alberta is, why should we not trust the biologists that control the management of all other big game species in Alberta (through the use of hunting), to manage the grizzly bear populations as well? There will come a time when the grizzly population becomes too large and the only effective tool to keep their numbers at a desired population is through hunting. Pretending that nature will be better off without the hunting influence of man is delusional as grizzly bears have been hunted for thousands of years in North America and have literally evolved alongside humans. It would in fact be unnatural for grizzly bears not to be hunted by humans. As for the economic importance of grizzlies in Alberta, the bears in Banff, Jasper, and many other provincial parks would still attract tourists and bring in plenty of money as they are in no danger of being hunted. Through opening a limited grizzly hunt, it would bring in tens of thousands of dollars to the guiding industry as hunters would travel from around the world to pay for this limited chance to harvest a bear. It would actually help the tourism industry by attracting a more diverse crowd.

[@john660]

There are a number of problems with an argument like this, Jimmy, first and foremost, there's the assumption that hunting benefits anyone other than hunters (and trappers). Why should our wildlife be managed to benefit only hunters when they're in the minority? And who is saying that hunting is highly regulated, a quick google search of scientific papers shows a number of results that indicate hunting regulations have all kinds of holes in them and there are countless examples of overhunting in the past, including both BC and AB grizzly bear populations. Right now, almost all wildlife managers are also hunters and consumptive users, so it's the fox guarding the hen house. Why open a limited hunt that almost no one is in favour of just so a few bears can be killed for a few thousand dollars when we've already shown that bear viewing is a much more sustainable economic activity? And even your argument that humans have always hunted bears is flawed...science in North America shows that grizzlies were rarely killed by first nations prior to the advent of firearms, there are only a select few nations that hunted grizzlies before that and it was in extremely low numbers. The science says grizzly bears control their own numbers, they don't need us managing them.

[@BryceJ82]

Great work. I will share this as much I can.

[@mikemcgugan3977]

John, Thank you for your conservation efforts.. A wildlife photographer myself, I'm drawn to Alberta often to come see the amazing wildlife. I can not understand the hunt on these incredible animals. Thanks for everything you're doing along with the guest speakers.

[@JimmyBreitenstein]

Fantastic video, John! A very informative video shedding light on such a controversial topic. Very well done 👍

[@john660]

Thank you Jimmy

[@briand2216]

Thanks for your work. I would love the mom and cubs photo.

[@gotophotoarchive9131]

Welcome back, I thought this channel has closed.

[@angiespearman6782]

Thank you for this informative documentary John. Well done! I hope they stay protected! I understand hunters that hunt for food, (some eat black bear, but not many eat grizzlies) but with all the new tools available these days, I wonder if it's really fair chase anymore. It's the hunters that just hunt for "sport" and are in it for the thrill or entertainment of killing something, the bigger the better, so they can have these dead animals hanging on their walls and tell tall tales of their "bravery" against the wild "beast", they make all hunters look bad.

[@joshmckinney1831]

His comment is completely wrong people don’t hunt grizzlies because of fear

[@informerdg]

Great documentary as always John! Can’t believe how you can shoot animals for fun. Been fortunate to visit Canada in 2019 and saw a loth of grizzly’s in the Bute Inlet area. What a majestic animals that should be protected for ever. Greetings from Holland

[@john660]

Thank you!

[@theootto5179]

Great video! How can big game hunters even provide a counter other than they enjoy killing

[@nazgulnoir6520]

In my humble opinion let minister nixon out in the wilderness with two knives to kill a bear, if he couldn't in 7 days he should resign

[@fynnharris4590]

Yes

[@carlosmarrero734]

Great documentary, just signed and sent the petition 👍🏽

[@cgordon1386]

Don't go petting a bear now.

[@carlosmarrero734]

@@cgordon1386 why would I do that

[@U.C.Hunter]

You said that you agree that decisions must be based on science not on emotions. But you made this video purely emotional not scientific. Why?????????

[@keystring]

I stayed a couple of nights in Hinton while traveling through Jasper, didn't know there are places you can go see bears there but then again when I was there, I had zero clue about bears. Great documentary though. And I can never understand the trophy hunt..

[@antsfinland2760]

The same thing is happening in Finland. Finland's bear population is big enough to sustain hunting, but this year they have been giving a larger amount of tags, because there is a slight population increase and some bears are migrating west for territory

[@john660]

That's terrible, hopefully there are some efforts underway to overturn that. Simply no need to hunt grizzlies, ever.

[@dorarolfzen4132]

🌿@@john660 When A Grizzly Kill's A Human & Get's 🌲The Taste Of Human Blood. It Must Be Hunted & Killed To Prevent It From Killing Another Human Being.🌲

[@twostop6895]

@@dorarolfzen4132 that doesn’t happen in the United States unless it’s proved to be predatory close range deaths that prove the Bear was surprised or a female defending cubs those bears don’t get searched for

[@serbanolaru778]

What are the number of attacks on humans and deaths per year caused by grizzly bears in the past 10 years?

[@john660]

I don't have the exact stats in front of me, but there have been two deaths in Alberta by grizzly bears this year, and I believe they were the first fatalities in quite a few years.

[@fynnharris4590]

Because the population is getting bigger and not as controlled anymore

[@twostop6895]

@@fynnharris4590 lol

[@davelikesbike5045]

Great documentary, I enjoyed it very much and liked learning more about this species, what we know (and don't know) about them. I do wonder if you're looking at both sides of the coin fairly? If a grizzly hunt is allowed again, wouldn't it be done with conservation in mind, just like hunting deer, elk or game birds? There is currently a deer hunt, but I'm not allowed to shoot just any deer or as many as I like. The numbers change all the time and I trust that I'm am only being allowed to hunt based on sustainable numbers. Is it fair to say that hunters are only in it for the trophy - I know (black bear) hunters that enjoy the trophy and the meat...yes the meat too. Again I really enjoyed your video and will always take the side of conservation over emotion, I just want to make sure that the proper message is being told.

[@zeldarobinson3382]

Im not a beleiver in trophy huntingof any animal , One thing you dont mention in this video is the fact that oars kill a lot of cubs to bring the sow back into heat for mating , why is this not mentioned , Trophy hunting takes the healthest from all the species which I think is wrong . the government likes the big bucks the trophy hunters bring in , look at Alaska 30,000 for a brown bear or Grizzley hunt , Elk, Cariboo amd moose , that is sick and wrong

[@zhevy1]

I don't see anybody carrying pepper spray. Interesting...

[@adventurousbec]

In the video? I saw John carrying it.

[@crisitansardina9595]

But hasn’t grizzly hunting been heavily regulated all over Alaska and Canada and aren’t populations more expansive then ever.

[@fynnharris4590]

Yes I very much agree, these zones are not accurate I have seen and heard of grizzly way out of these zones closer to Edmonton.

[@davebenson1504]

Great to get real 'facts' out there...

[@clinttrost5743]

They are not threatened there’s more now then the last hundred years these lies have to stop

[@EXPOSEDWildlifeConservancy]

@@clinttrost5743 westernwildlife.org/history/

[@ianspingle8865]

Great documentary, the Alberta government doesn't want grisly bears or wolves around they need to much protected land that they want to develop that's the bottom line $$$$$ never have enough 🤑

[@dewaynejay1032]

The wilderness want be wild without wild animals. That's the beauty of nature ppl

[@w-james9277]

Why people enjoy trophy hunting is something I'll never understand. Iv never once looked at an animal and desired to shoot it.

[@dorarolfzen4132]

🌞A Human's Life Is Sacred Unlike The Wild Animal's Life. ( Food For Man ) Coyote's, Wolves, Bear's, Cougar's, Mountain Lion's, Etc.🌲 Do Get Killed If They Kill Human's. Even A Human That Kill's Another Human Will Be Put To Death. 🌲Balance Is Needed.

[@apache1856]

Its really good bears are making a come back. the more bears the better the hunt .always carry a good hand gun. To protect your life.

[@Alberta1stPodcast]

Thumbs down for the hippie nonsense

[@fynnharris4590]

Lmao agreed

[@JesusRunsMyHouse]

They are the most beautiful creatures I have ever seen but of all of them the most stunning is the Grizzly. They are more like humans than humans realize. Growing up in the upper peninsula of Northern Michigan we have black bears everywhere but every once we get a Grizzly that swims across from somewhere by way of Lake Superior. I've watched people use dogs to tree bears or sit up in trees with high powered compound bows. That's not hunting its collective cowardice!

[@macmcmillen6282]

Go ahead Alberta, start a trophy hunt of grizzly bears. If you do, I'll NEVER visit your province again. And last time I visited Alberta in 2014 I spent close to $5000 USD. I'd be more than happy to spend my money elsewhere.

[@john660]

I think a lot of people would agree.

[@dorarolfzen4132]

🌿@@john660 Every🌎ne Has Their Own Ideas About Animal's.🌲 Some People See Bear's As A Creature Of Beauty & Stature.🌲 And Other People See Bear's, Deer, Moose, Squirrel, Duck's, Geese, Pheasant, Fish, Etc. As Food For Their Human Survival. 🌲

[@luxrex5753]

@@dorarolfzen4132 and some see them as a trophy and monsters, when in reality they're just trying to survive like everyone else

[@dorarolfzen4132]

@@luxrex5753 God❤gave us animals to eat. Who know what the future holds for so many homeless individuals.

[@luxrex5753]

@@dorarolfzen4132 no animals are not only for consumption they are living creatures like you or me, they feel sadness, pain, joy, anger

[@mikeroberts6919]

What about people living in the rural areas on the Eastern Slopes. What is the stance or proposition if Grizzlies and these humans are engaged in conflict?

[@john660]

Continued coexistence work, more wildlife conflict specialists, etc. There will be times when bears will need to be managed, but most times it will be people that will need to be managed and educated further. And there may be areas where we decide we're not comfortable having many grizzlies.

[@nvtruant5994]

I live in an area of BC that has both black and grizzly bears. It’s been great seeing the locals send out “heads up” notices on Facebook and other social platforms to alert townsfolk and recreationists to bear activity. We’re learning to give them space and they move along without conflict. Removing attractants also has helped. I’ve personally have encountered several bears, some at close range and have never had an issue.

[@OBIIIIIIIII]

I wish I could hunt the hunters. Now that would be sport.

[@rcg7262]

Advocating as solution lol what a joke

[@john660]

Not sure I get where you're coming from?

[@HoganPowerlifting]

18 down votes? WTF?

[@kman6349]

Terrible bias information from non hunters. You said it best. "You don't understand science or recovery". So let conservation model that works for decades do its job. Every video shot is by road. Bears looking in ditches real natural. Get into back country see impacts of the recovery. Talk to people who in the bush. Nixon is doing great job. Grizzly hunt coming back to Alberta.

[@john660]

Look, if you're going to try to make an argument, then at least take the time to spell properly and use complete sentences.

[@crwildmb]

Tell him John! Tell him! 🔥💪🐻

[@fynnharris4590]

Hopefully the hunts do come back, I still want the bears to be in the wilderness but to me it’s so different than a deer. I would eat the bear just like I do a deer.

[@twostop6895]

lol, I don't see it happening

[@kman6349]

@@fynnharris4590 Bear taste amazing! I plan on shooting 2 in next month.

[@Bear22250]

Lmao that guy saying people hunt grizzlies because there afraid of them is a joke 😂 People that hunt them they do it for a trophy mount. I don’t hunt them but his story is hilarious, afraid!! Lived I the woods all my life there’s nothing to be afraid of period..

[@nevinmorrison]

A very biased documentary. Many people like bear meat. Like every other population of game species proper wildlife management can control populations as they get too high. Currently populations are not high enough to justify hunting. At some point this may not be the case. A limited hunt may be an appropriate wildlife management tool in the future. The draw system ensures that animals are not over hunted. The speakers in the video do the opposite of what they say. They state there is no science behind hunting as a wildlife management tool which we know is not the case. The speakers need to take emotion out of the conversation like they pretend is important. I agree that target numbers in WMU's should be agreed upon. Without a target carrying capacity it is impossible to consider a hunting season. Elk and Black Bear targets also need to be considered as higher grizzly populations can have a negative affect on these species. Targets should be set and hunting seasons should be opened only when these criteria are in place. It is disappointing to see biased documentaries that only show one side of a complex wildlife management issue.

[@john660]

I think the science is pretty clear on this one, but feel free to argue with the experts we interviewed (note that three of them are hunters). And almost no one eats grizzly meat, it's very different than black bear meat. I get that some of you trophy hunters get riled up when we present this side of the argument, but frankly it's long overdue. We simply don't need to be letting a few sport hunters get to hunt a species just to kill a big predator.

[@nevinmorrison]

@@john660 I am not a trophy hunter and have no desire to hunt grizzlies but I am a hunter. Anyone that is harvesting a grizzly is likely taking the large amount of meat and they will eat it and likely enjoy it. Like most wild game if prepared properly the meat is good. When grizzly populations become too high there are more human/bear conflicts and they can have a negative affect on the population of other species. I want to see grizzlies in the wild but there is a threshold for too many. We are already seeing an increase in human bear conflicts in both Alberta and Montana. These have lead to more deaths in recent years. Like other limited hunting seasons in Alberta it will not be open season on bears. The draw system will be in place abd it would be many years for an individual to get drawn for a species that does not have the abundance to justify a large number of tags per season. I agree with you that accurate numbers need to be determined and carrying capacity determined for each WMU but there is absolutely no reason why hunting is not a viable management tool like it is for any other game species in North America.

[@crwildmb]

Tell him John!

[@twostop6895]

@@nevinmorrison lol

[@halspencer6613]

Absolutely nothing wrong with hunting those bears - ask the biologists who study them closely - not just taking their photos. Taking the pictures of 'em, and then your provincial government will allow it, perhaps, to open a hunting season. Would make a great hunting experience, without the emotions that tie the damned bears into a human species.