Banff National Park‘s (and perhaps Canada’s) most famous grizzly bear is on the lam after it removed its tracking collar within just one week.
According to CBC, Bear No. 122, known by many as “The Boss”, was one of three adult male grizzly bears fitted with tracking collar. The Boss was fitted on May 13th and had removed his collar within just one week. According to a spokesperson for the Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay Field Unit of Parks Canada, it’s not unusual for large males to remove their collars.
The Boss is often considered the dominant bear in Banff’s Bow Valley and is one of the most well-known grizzlies in Canada. The other two adult males captured in culvert traps this spring remain collared. Communications officer Justin Brisbane said the GPS data collected through the program will support evidence-based management to help grizzly bears in the park.
The collaring effort is part of Parks Canada’s grizzly bear habitat security model, a core commitment under the 2022 Banff National Park management plan. The model aims to improve understanding of habitat suitability and connectivity, accounting for seasonal changes and human disturbance.
That human disturbance is a documented problem. According to an access to information document cited by CBC, the number of grizzly bears within four kilometers of paved roads in Banff dropped by 56 percent, likely due to vehicle and train collisions and displacement caused by human activity. The park’s grizzly population was estimated at 71 bears between 2021 and 2023, up from roughly 64 between 2012 and 2014.
When The Boss ventured into Harvie Heights and Canmore in late 2024, Parks Canada staff expressed serious concern, particularly around crowds of people photographing him in human-use areas. Grizzly bears are listed as a species of special concern federally and as threatened in Alberta.
