Alberta commits $700K to decrease farm and wildlife conflicts

The Government of Alberta has announced over $700,000 in funding in an ongoing effort to prevent human-wildlife conflicts in southwestern Alberta.

The province says residents of southwestern Alberta have raised concerns regarding the growing grizzly bear, black bear, wolf, and cougar populations, and how they impact local communities and farms.

The Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association has worked successfully to promote peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife in the Waterton Biosphere Region through its Carnivores and Communities Program (CACP), which has been in place since the 1980s.

Alberta’s government is supporting CACP by investing $700,000 over five years. The program will see a $160,000 contribution in 2023-24 and $135,000 annually for the subsequent four years.

Brodie Haugan, Chair of Alberta Beef Producers, says he is excited to see the Carnivores and Communities Program receive continued support.

“Conflicts with large carnivores are an ongoing challenge provincially. The efforts to manage these conflicts in the Waterton region is a great initiative, as this work also provides a case study for potential expansion opportunities.”

The CACP works with Albertans living in the area to reduce primary agriculture attractants by managing dead livestock and bee yards, and securing facilities for grain, feed and garbage while ensuring both people and carnivores have a place on the land. Initiatives under the CACP include the Deadstock Removal Program, on-farm carcass composting, electric fence installation, wildlife attractant reduction, and bear safety training for ranch families.

Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks says coexisting with wildlife, including large carnivores, is an everyday part of living and working in rural Alberta.

“The Carnivores and Communities Program is making a difference for farmers, ranchers, and landowners in the Waterton Biosphere Region and this investment will help protect humans, wildlife, and infrastructure,” Loewen explains.