It’s the final straw for Bear 148. In July 2017, after an encounter with a jogger on a park trail, Bear 148 is tracked, sedated and taken by helicopter to a place far, far away. Not long after, she wanders across the border into British Columbia, where she’s killed by a hunter.

But how was that final decision made? There are rumours about who made the final call that led to Bear 148’s death. In the midst of tracking down the answer to that question, comes another: how do we undo a half-century of bear scare?

For decades people have been told bears are dangerous and only tolerable if they stay away from us.

It’s spring and as humans emerge from their winter hibernation so too will the bears.

Can we find a new way to reimagine coexistence?

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Featured in this episode:

Paul Frame, carnivore specialist, Alberta Environment and Parks

Jay Honeyman, human-wildlife conflict biologist with Alberta Environment and Parks

Kevin Van Tighem, former superintendent of Banff National Park and author of “Bears Without Fear”

 

Undercurrent soundtrack sponsored in part by Approach Media.