By Kelly Cryderman, Calgary Herald, March 30, 2010.

CALGARY - Even with a provincial grizzly bear hunt moratorium in place, people are overwhelming responsible for the deaths of the powerful predators, according to Alberta government data.

Seventeen Alberta grizzlies died as a result of human actions, out of a total of 21 grizzly mortalities in 2009, says a provincial government bear mortality chart.

Alberta’s grizzly bear hunt was cancelled four years ago, but the provincial chart shows how grizzly bears continue to perish. For instance, six grizzlies were poached last year, three were mistaken by hunters for black bears and shot, and five were killed in human-related accidents, such as being hit by a car.

Since 2000, there has been 221 human-caused grizzly mortalities.

A three-year analysis of “known” grizzly bear deaths from the government states that more than one-third of the animals are killed because a person in the woods acts or shoots in self-defence. “Problem bears and illegal killing together represented another 35 per cent,” says the analysis.

Sierra Club Canada grizzly campaigner Carl Morrison said many instances of poaching may not show up in the government statistics.

“Such a high number of human-caused grizzly bear mortalities indicate that the government isn’t taking effective action to implement the grizzly bear recovery plan,” Morrison said.

Earlier this month, Alberta’s Endangered Species Conservation Committee recommended for the second time in eight years that grizzly bears be listed as a threatened species.

The first time the recommendation was made, in 2002, it was based on estimates that there were fewer than 1,000 in Alberta.

A recent survey of the grizzly population indicates there are less than 700 grizzlies in the province.

Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Minister Mel Knight said he will bring the recommendation to cabinet for discussion with his colleagues. However, no timeline for a decision has been given.

Grizzly bear hunts have been suspended in Alberta since 2006 and Knight again suspended the grizzly bear hunt for 2010. However, the minister said he will not rule out allowing a limited spring hunt in future years.

More than hunting, many scientists believe the greatest threat to grizzly populations is both industrial and residential encroachment into their habitat.