Study suggests dogs increase risk of human-bear conflicts

A study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management challenges the common belief that dogs act as effective early warning systems or deterrents in bear country. Analyzing 326 bear-dog encounters spanning over a century, researchers found that dogs often increase the likelihood of conflict rather than preventing it.

The research indicates that dogs initiated 54 percent of the incidents studied. Experts suggest that off-leash dogs pose a significant risk to both animals and humans. This finding follows incidents such as a 2023 grizzly attack in Banff National Park and a recent encounter in Stoney Hill Regional Park, where a sow bear fought with off-leash dogs, leading to injuries for a human intervening in the altercation.