Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association holds Community Information Meeting on Nov. 5

Posted on October 29, 2026 by admin

By Heather Cameron
Westwind Weekly News

The Carnivores and Communities Program, part of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association, will be holding a Community Information Meeting on Nov. 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Tanner Senior Center, located at 260 1 St W in Cardston.

“We periodically hold meetings to give community members the opportunity to learn what is happening with large carnivores in the region, including funding opportunities to help landowners decrease their problems with these wildlife,” said Jeff Bectell, coordinator for the Carnivores and Communities Program. “The meetings also provide an opportunity for community members to provide feedback to the province about what they are experiencing and how it might be handled.”

This particular meeting, Bectell explained, will involve discussion of a proposed grizzly bear collaring effort that is being led by the province and supported by the Waterton Biosphere Region. 

“The intent is to collar some of these more eastern grizzly bears to learn more about how they are using the landscape, and if they are exclusively out east or if they go back to the mountains,” said Bectell. “This collaring will not happen without landowner cooperation, and that is one purpose of the meeting, to discuss with landowners possible trapping locations, and how information will be shared once bears are collared.”

The meeting will provide opportunity for discussion on grizzly management, and the issues people have been having this year, and the speakers will include himself, grizzly bear biologist and Waterton Biosphere Reserve science lead Andrea Morehouse, and Paul Frame, the provincial carnivore specialist.

People generally appreciate that this program exists and that these meetings are held, as grizzly bears impact people.

The Carnivores and Communities Program has been functioning since about 2009, Bectell noted, while the Waterton Biosphere Reserve began back in 1979, and they are ever mindful regarding the existence and movement of grizzly bears enough to hold awareness meetings.

“We hold these meetings periodically and the province is responsible for grizzly bear management, and they are trying to inform their decisions with community input and with science, so that is a reason to have these meetings and do the collaring,” said Bectell. 

“We hope that these meetings do help provide information and an opportunity for discussion and feedback. Issues with grizzly bears are not easy, people want to support wildlife, but it comes at a cost and so communication about how to make this work for people and wildlife is important. These meetings are meant to be informative and constructive.”