Hunters were charged at by a sow with her cubs west of Edmonton

A pair of hunters charged by grizzly bears west of Edmonton probably shot one of the the animals, say provincial officials.

On Sept 17, the elk hunters came across a grizzly sow and two cubs near Cadomin, about 450 km northwest of Calgary, said Public Safety and Emergency Services (PSES).

“The hunters reported encountering a grizzly sow and two sub-adult cubs while hunting on foot,” PSES said in an email.

“About an hour later, one of the cubs ran toward the hunters, followed by the sow, which charged them. Both hunters fired at the sow, which may have been struck.”

Fish and Wildlife officers assisted by a helicopter crew followed up on a blood trail but couldn’t find a bear carcass, said PSES.

“Based on the evidence found at the scene, officers do not believe the sow was fatally shot, although this cannot be confirmed,” they said.

In September, 2015, a bighorn sheep hunter narrowly escaped death in the same area when he was attacked and knocked over. He played dead and the bear moved on.

Fish and wildlife put together a team of their officers, two emergency medical technicians and two guides to respond to the incident. They were attacked by what they described as an aggressive bear, which they fatally shot.

The injured hunter was extricated from the rugged and remote area the following day.

Fish and Wildlife officials said the bear had been attracted by the carcass of the bighorn sheep that had been legally killed by the hunter.

From 2020 to 2025, a reported total of 161 grizzlies were killed by human contact in Alberta, 14 of those due to self-defence, says the province.

So far this year, at least 13 grizzlies have been killed by hunters working under a provincial program to control problem bears. Last year, that number was one, though the province said the program wasn’t operating during all of 2025.