7,000 applied to hunt Alberta’s ‘problem’ wildlife including grizzly bears says minister [Video]

Since the provincial government announced it would assemble a pool of Albertans to act as “public wildlife management responders,” permitting them to assist in selective hunts for “problem” elk and grizzly bears, about 7,000 Albertans have applied for a spot.

The government says the program is a wildlife management tool.

So far, 30 Albertans have been selected for a shortlist — 10 each in the north, south and central regions of the province. 

“If the need arises for a problem wildlife response, the first person on the responder list in the relevant region will be contacted. If they are unavailable, the next person will be contacted, and so on,” reads an email from a Forestry and Parks press secretary sent on Monday.

“To date, no responder has been contacted.”

It comes after the Alberta government announced it would permit selective grizzly bear hunts this fall as part of a June 17 ministerial order, so long as they meet …