2024 has been a challenging year for wildlife conservation, but despite the setbacks, we remain steadfast in our commitment to drive meaningful change. None of our progress would be possible without your unwavering support.
Here is our year in review:
In recent months, Exposed has become a leading voice in the fight to protect Alberta’s wildlife. From our firm opposition to the controversial grizzly bear hunt and the wolf killing contest, to our ongoing efforts against the lifting of wolverine trapping limits and now the push against cougar hunting, we’ve been at the forefront of media coverage and public debates on wildlife conservation in the province.
As these critical issues have gained attention, our team has been featured in major outlets like CBC News, CTV News, Global News, and The Globe and Mail, where we’ve been interviewed and quoted as a leading authority on wildlife conservation and management.
Our science-based advocacy has made us a go-to source for those seeking accurate information about Alberta’s wildlife policies, whether it's the decline of wolverines, the impact of unrestricted cougar hunting, or the growing threats to wolves, grizzly bears, and other species.
Exposed launched our three-part documentary series, Trapped in the Past, in March 2024. We followed that up with the launch of our official Trapped in the Past national campaign this October, right as we discovered that the Alberta Trapper’s Association and the Alberta Professional Outfitters’ Society had secretly begun a Top Wolf Killing Contest.
The news likely shocked and disgusted most of you just as much as it did us, but wolf killing contests like this are part of a broader issue in Alberta and across our country, where loosely-regulated, archaic, commercial trapping practices, including the use of inhumane killing neck snares, continue to be widespread. This campaign focuses on continuing to expose the outdated and cruel trapping regulations that support contests like this and the commercial fur trade.
Thankfully, we now know we are not alone in opposition to today’s trapping practices. We have been overwhelmed with the support we have received from people like you from around the world – through sharing our posts, commenting with your opinions, donating and spreading the word, and we are now more confident than ever that your help is making a difference and that together we will see a future where killing neck snares are banned nationwide and where commercial trapping regulations are updated to be more in line with the views of modern society.
We find inspiration in knowing that it’s been done before: in 2019, California banned commercial fur trapping altogether.
As we reflect on 2024, we’re proud to look back at the successful expansion of our trail camera network in the MD of Bighorn here in Alberta. This year, we installed 10 new trail cameras in key locations like Lac Des Arcs, Deadman's Flats, Exshaw, and Harvie Heights, bringing our total to over 20 cameras across 6 southern Alberta communities.
Thanks to these efforts, we’re capturing incredible footage of local wildlife, including cougars, bears, and deer.
If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out the footage from the Village of Waiparous and the Back 40 on our YouTube page. We’re thankful for everyone who has supported this project and helped us make a difference for wildlife in the region!
The ongoing goal with this trail camera network is to showcase how our apex predators share the same landscapes with us, sometimes literally ‘right in our backyards’. It’s this coexistence that we believe is key to a long-term future for many of our wild predators as we continue to expand our communities further into their homes.
Since the release of our documentary In the Crosshairs: The Road to Recovery for Alberta’s Threatened Grizzly Bears, we’ve been deeply concerned by motions the Alberta government has made that indicated a grizzly hunt might be returning. Our fears came to a head this past July with Alberta’s decision to lift the nearly 20-year ban on hunting threatened grizzly bears. We know you share our concern.
Under the new regulations, the Ministry of Forestry and Parks can now issue Grizzly Bear Management Authorizations for hunting in cases of human-bear conflicts or where bears are deemed a concern in specific areas. This move has sparked significant criticism, including from EWC Co-Founder Kim Odland and former Board member and grizzly bear biologist, Dr. Sarah Elmeligi, who argue it lacks scientific backing and undermines the province's recovery plan for the species.
Exposed remains a trusted source for keeping the public informed about the ongoing challenges to Alberta’s grizzly bears. Your continued support allows us to advocate for science-based conservation and ensure these important issues stay in the spotlight.
Let’s keep up the pressure in 2025.
On June 8, 2024, Nakoda, a rare and beloved white grizzly bear, tragically lost her life after being struck by a vehicle on the Trans-Canada Highway near Yoho National Park. Just hours apart her two young cubs were also killed in the same area. This devastating event adds to a troubling trend, with Nakoda being the sixth known breeding female grizzly to die in the Lake Louise-Yoho-Kootenay field unit since 2020, and the 14th grizzly bear fatality in the mountain parks since 2019.
These losses are particularly concerning given the grizzly bear’s status as a 'Threatened' species in Alberta. This tragedy highlights the urgent need for enhanced mitigation measures, such as wildlife no-stopping zones, speed restrictions, better signage, and the completion of highway fencing and crossing structures to protect these vulnerable animals. This is only the beginning of our campaign for Nakoda. We’ve already initiated talks with Parks Canada and the Biosphere Institute of the Rockies to explore the next steps in driving change on Nakoda’s behalf.
We have collected over 2600 letters in honour of Nakoda and her cubs and there is still time to help us reach a goal of 3000. Your support is crucial in driving the change needed to prevent further wildlife loss and ensure a safe future for grizzly bears for generations to come.
Alberta’s Environment Minister, Todd Loewen, approved six new cougar hunting zones, including in Cypress Hills Provincial Park, and tripled the quota for female cougars. This decision raises significant concerns, as it will orphan more cubs—female cougars care for their young for up to two years and spend 80% of their lives in the company of kittens.
Additionally, the Wild Sheep Foundation is offering up to $7,000 per cougar killed in areas with wild sheep, including a $1,000 bonus for females. However, the cougar population is already near its minimum target of 1,500, making the increased kill rate questionable. This could lead to more orphaned cubs and greater human-wildlife conflict, putting the ecosystem at risk. Furthermore, Loewen’s family ties to his guide-outfitting business raise conflict of interest concerns. Make sure to read more on this issue by reading the press release, here.
We want change in 2025 to protect Alberta’s cougar population, reduce conflicts, and ensure decisions are made with full transparency and ecological responsibility. We have been actively pursuing the resignation of Minister Loewen together with a consortium of other organizations.
Your support is crucial to achieving this goal—donate today, and your contribution will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $20,000 until the end of 2024.
Thanks to supporters like you, we continue to grow our database of educational resources, including the addition of a new Wolf Series to our Knowledge Base in 2024. This online Knowledge Base now includes a Wolf Series, a Cougar Series, a Trapping Series and a Grizzly Coexistence Series.
The goal of these educational libraries is to help support your journey in wildlife conservation, helping educate you on the biology, ecology and issues facing some of our apex predators. We hope to continue to empower you with the information needed to make a meaningful impact for wolves and other wildlife with more series coming in 2025.
The EWC Shop made a bold comeback this year and we’re thrilled that you can now wear your gear to show your support for apex predators! Have you gotten your gear yet? Be sure to tag us on Instagram!
We are thrilled to share that, thanks to your incredible generosity, we have raised an amazing amount for wildlife conservation this past Giving Tuesday! We are deeply grateful for your support as it will help us plan and budget for 2025 and beyond.
A special thank you to our Board of Directors, whose matching challenge will double your donations until the end of the year (up to $20,000), giving you the opportunity to make an even greater impact for wildlife.
Your contributions are directly supporting critical programs that protect endangered species, preserve habitats, and ensure a future where wildlife can thrive. We are so thankful to everyone who donated, shared our mission, and helped make this campaign a success.
If you missed Giving Tuesday, don’t worry—there’s still time to contribute and double your impact until the end of the year! And all Canadian donors will receive a charitable tax receipt for your donation.
As we approach 2025, Exposed is preparing for another impactful year of protecting apex predators. In the coming months, we will reflect on our accomplishments, especially as we celebrate our 5-year anniversary as a non-profit in March—a major milestone in our journey.
As part of our ongoing efforts to push for a ban on neck snares, we will be reaching out to organizations across the US and Europe to join us in our efforts. The reality is that the primary market for Canadian wild fur is overseas, and it’s essential to raise awareness and educate the public about the brutal methods used to obtain this fur.
While Canada is known worldwide as a top travel destination with breathtaking outdoor experiences, there is a darker side when it comes to how we allow our wildlife to suffer needlessly under the false pretense of "wildlife management" and trapping. The international community must recognize how Canada is failing to protect one of the last remaining places on Earth where apex predators still roam freely.
This anniversary marks a half-decade of passionate and successful conservation efforts, heightened awareness, and meaningful progress in preserving critical ecosystems for apex predators.
We couldn’t do what we do without supporters like you.
Happy Holidays!
Sincerely,
The Team at Exposed
