An infamous Banff bear was spotted chowing down on berries earlier this week. Photographer Jason Leo Bantle was able to snap some pictures of the feast. Bear 122, a large male grizzly known by locals as ‘The Boss,’ is believed to be 28-years-old and some 700 pounds. “Given The Boss’s age, you never know if a recent encounter will be the last one,” Bantle said. He says the chance encounter on Wednesday gave him the opportunity to watch Parks Canada staff as they worked to protect the legendary patriarch of the Bow Valley. “The Boss essentially had his own security detail,” Bantle said. “And rightly so. I joined a group of people who were allowed from the safety of our vehicle to witness and enjoy the grandeur of this incredible bear.” Bantle says people from all ages and nationalities were stopped to observe the grizzly. “It was incredible to watch The Boss as he vacuumed berries off the lush crop near the roadway,” he said, noting The Boss was focused primarily on buffaloberries. After years of photographing the bear, Bantle says he can tell the bear’s teeth are deteriorating. He says The Boss also has new scars on his muzzle and appears to be missing a bottom canine tooth – evidence of an aging grizzly bear. “The deterioration of his teeth will compromise his survival and ability to consume certain kinds of foods that would be part of a grizzly bear’s diet,” he said. “Sharp canine teeth help the bear grab and kill fish, deer and other animals.” Despite the challenges of aging, the Boss continues to defy the odds. “It was almost miraculous to see him once again preparing for his late November hibernation,” Bantle said. Parks Canada estimates there are 691 grizzly bears in Alberta, including 65 grizzly bears in Banff National Park. The province announced a month ago that it is working on an updated grizzly count.
