Legendary Banff grizzly ‘The Boss’ awakens as Alberta bears begin to emerge

The awakening of Banff National Park’s most iconic grizzly heralds the return of bears to the Alberta landscape.

Parks Canada calls him Bear 122, but he’s better known to most in Alberta — and across Canada — as The Boss.

Believed to be in his mid-to-late twenties, the Bow Valley’s dominant grizzly is typically among the first bears observed in Banff National Park every spring.

This year is no exception, says wildlife photographer Chris Bloodoff, who has seen The Boss multiple times over the last few days.

“He’s still super tired, walks around really slow, and he’s probably sleeping about 20 hours a day right now, so he’s not doing a whole lot,” said Bloodoff.

As a Banff resident, Bloodoff is no stranger to encountering bears throughout the national park. He’s been seeing The Boss around for the last seven years.

“It’s kind of like almost seeing your old buddy, really,” he said. “He looks great, he doesn’t look like he’s aged a day.”

The gargantuan grizzly has been estimated to weigh somewhere between 650 and 700 pounds. He’s the largest bear in the Bow Valley, followed by his rival Bear 136, or Split Lip.

WATCH | Banff’s dominant grizzly ‘The Boss’ could have competition:

Banff’s dominant grizzly could have competition

The Boss is considered the dominant bear in the Bow Valley. But those who have followed the Banff patriarch for years say he’s got competition in bear No. 136, Split Lip. (Photo credit: Jason Leo Bantle)

Bloodoff anticipates people going out to look for The Boss, and urges those who do to be respectful toward wildlife.

“I don’t like people hounding on him,” Bloodoff said. “He does deal with it pretty much all day, sunrise to sunset, you’ve got people looking for him. He doesn’t have many places to travel right now, so it’s just kind of hard.”

“He’s still waking up and struggling to find food, so whatever we can do to stay out of his way and keep him happy, it’ll be the best for our bears.”

Parks Canada restricts campground access

“Bears are awake and active in Banff National Park,” Parks Canada said in a statement sent to CBC News.

Lake Louise Trailer Campground, located just outside the village, has been closed to all tents, tent trailers, and units with soft-sided pop-outs.

That closure, in effect from March 25 to Dec. 15, is due to “seasonal bear activity,” according to Parks Canada.

“Bear activity will begin to increase as spring arrives,” Parks Canada’s statement reads. “To ensure the safety of wildlife and the public during this sensitive time of increased activity, area closures may be implemented as needed.”

Last year, a high number of bear encounters in provincial parks led Alberta Parks to issue a blanket bear warning for the entirety of Kananaskis Country — the first time such an advisory was issued since 2016.