The Boss is awake. Albertans rushing to catch a glimpse are urged to keep their distance
CBC
Now that Banff's infamous grizzly "The Boss" has emerged from hibernation, Albertans are flocking to the mountains to catch a glimpse — and some action shots — of his adventures.
The Boss, officially known as Bear No. 122, has already been spotted dozens of times this spring. Chances are you've already seen recent photos and videos of him floating around social media.
This is garnering mixed reactions online, and it has bear safety experts cautioning people to keep their distance.
Weighing upward of 650 pounds (295 kilograms), The Boss is the most dominant grizzly bear in and around Banff National Park. He's eaten a black bear. He even once brushed off being struck by a train.
After two years of searching, Tasha Barnett of Bearberry, Alta., finally saw him earlier this week on railway tracks — eating grain that had fallen from a train.
"I don't think I've seen a better looking bear, and I have seen a few bears. It was just an incredible, sobering feeling to see him just doing his thing," said Barnett, who had driven two hours in hopes of spotting him.
But how did she know it was The Boss and not just any other grizzly bear? There are some telltale signs, she said: His massive size, a missing chunk of his right ear and his shorter snout.
"There's not a lot of bears that look like him."
Barnett said she was one of about a dozen people parked along the side of the road with their cameras and big lenses, trying to get a good shot.
"The more you see on social media, the more it entices people to want to get out there and have their opportunity because he is a big deal," she said.
Canadian Bear Safety Authority founder John Clarke was an Alberta Fish and Wildlife officer for 35 years, specializing in human-wildlife conflict and bear maulings.
While he didn't work in the Banff area, he's well aware of The Boss, who has become somewhat of a celebrity over the years.
He said that just by existing, The Boss is unknowingly raising awareness about the beauty of Alberta's threatened grizzly bear population.
But with the recent influx of people rushing to Bear No. 122's usual spots, Clarke said his heart goes out to the grizzly.
