Alberta Fish and Wildlife can only be described as goons with guns. This government department's mandate is to protect Alberta's wildlife, yet their first response to any wildlife "management" issue is to kill the animals. They had a number of simple options if they felt these bears were a threat. Number one, cheap and easy, fence in the dump. Number two, station a guard at the dump to keep people away until a fence could be built. Number three, a little more expensive but very doable, tranquilize the bears and move them to a remote area. Instead they chose to kill these bears whose only crime was that they were hungry and there was a ready supply of food. Everyone who has spent even one night at a campground knows that bears will scavenge any food or garbage left lying around. Fish and Wildlife post warning signs everywhere, as well as supply bear proof garbage cans at every campground and rest stop. So it was not surprising that bears would scavenge what must have looked like a buffet with welcome signs.
 
The people of Conklin are extremely upset about the killing of these bears on a number of levels. The townspeople were actually quite attached to the bears and there had never been any incidents between bears and humans in the area. When asked why the dump hasn't been fenced in, the answer was that since they are a small, mostly native community they are always last in line for any government help or action. There is no question that Fish and Wildlife culture is one of hunting and killing, the wildlife officers simply acted on those expectations.

Please let the Alberta Government know that you are outraged at the slaughter of these innocent animals.  Phone or email Sustainable Resource Development (SRD), Fish and Wildlife, and your own MLA.

SRD - srd.infocent@gov.ab.ca

Minister, Ted Morton (constituency office) - foothills.rockyview@assembly.ab.ca ; 1-877-944-0313

Environmental Hotline - 1-800-222-6514

Ministers Office - 780-415-4815

Alberta Fish and Wildlife - 780-944-0313