Second grizzly bear found shot south of Grande Prairie

Fish and Wildlife investigators are asking for tips after two grizzly bears were found shot in the span of a week near Grande Prairie.

The second bear was found around 3 p.mWednesday about 100 kilometres south of the city. The mature male, weighing about 500 pounds, was found approximately 15 metres offRed Rock Road, which can be accessed throughWolf Creek Road or the main Weyerhaeuser Road.

It had a single gunshot wound to the chest. Investigators believe the animal was shot at the same location where it was found.

'Particularly rare'

The latest shotgrizzly was found about 60 kilometres south of where a young one-year-old female grizzly bearwas found dead on Saturday afternoon.

"We can't say that they're connected and we're not ruling it out," said Brendan Cox, a spokesman for Alberta Fish and Wildlife. "We are just asking the public for any information that'sout there so we can put all the pieces together."

Thefemalewas lying under a road barricade sign at kilometre 42.5 of Weyerhaeuser Road. A single gunshot wound was found on the bear and its wounds suggested the animal had been shot at the location where it was found.

"It's particularly rare to have two grizzly bears shot in such a short time span and so close together geographically," Cox said. "It'ssomething that we have to take very seriously and it is a priority for us to get to the bottom of both of these occurrences."

• Wildlife officials investigate after dead grizzly bear found near Grande Prairie

Hunting grizzly bears has been illegal in Alberta since 2006.Grizzlies were listed as a threatened species under the Alberta Wildlife Act in Alberta in 2010 when it was determined there were only about 700 left.

If convicted, a person who kills a grizzly could face a maximum fine of $100,000 and/or one year in jail.

Investigators are asking anyone with information on the case to contact the Grande Prairie district office at 780-538-5265 or the 24-hour Report A Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.