Swan hills freeman lake bear

[craig82]

I haven't been up here in a while and man does it look different. I checked all my old honey holes and not seeing much. Am I a bit late? Anyone with any advice is sure appreciate it.
Thanks Craig

[ROA]

There simply isn't nearly the bears up here that there once were. I have only seen one sow with 2 cubs this year. For the amount of time I spend out there at work thats **** poor. 8-10 years ago I would have seen dozens by now. Same story as every other game animal, between the winters, the wolves, the hunting and the logging its slim pickings.

[Hunter4ever12]

I was just up in that area a week ago,same results not many bears this year. Couldn't believe how brown it was still there. Last year we saw about 26 bears in 8 days,this year we saw 6 bear in 4 days. Still managed to see a color phased bear,and had a nice encounter with a huge grizzly. Think we saw 7 wolves,but could never get a shot off.

[Big Grey Wolf]

The much higher grizz numbers could be a factor. Even if they do not eat the black bears they will still run them out of their area.

[kujoseto]

Grizzlies don't exist in Alberta. And if they did, their numbers wouldn't be growing and their territory wouldn't be expanding


Too bad to hear such a great area isn't doing so well

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

The much higher grizz numbers could be a factor. Even if they do not eat the black bears they will still run them out of their area.

I'm inclined to agree with you.

[ROA]

I've came across 2 blacks killed by grizz just out of spite/violence what ever you want to call it. Grizz never did return to eat them. Also seen grizz on grizz kills as with blacks the boars kill some of the smaller bears they come across.

Have also been told one of the last meals a grizz will eat before hibernating is sometimes a denned up black bear. Wolves also pick off the bears in the winter as the are such an easy meal.