This is and always will be a horrible tragedy no matter where it occurs. I am not at all trivializing this terrible event but what is missing here is the understanding of living in the "country" comes with certain normal precautions. I am ONLY talking about this and not when wildlife wanders into more densely populated areas. If you live in bear country or even lion territory, know it and we need to be situationally aware at all times. I know this is not popular but if you live where predatory animals live then you need to behave in kind. Even if there is a hunting season, you
STILL LIVE in predator country and need to take normal precautions.
There was a quote that wildlife is getting accustomed to humans? Maybe it is humans getting accustomed to wildlife thus dropping normal predator alert and defensive measures as result?
We know she was walking trails on her property so this suggests she lived in the country to some extent. We don't know if she was on a wildlife viewing walk where she might have been deliberately was quiet or was she wearing noise makers to alert bears etc of her presence to allow them to leave the area. Even then, an older predator may still attack due to easy meal concept. This is where defensive measures can be taken even if unsuccessful at least there is a chance for survival. Canada needs to rethink the personal protection firearm concepts for being in bear country.
I live in MI and don't have large predators to be concerned about BUT I do not ALLOW my granddaughters to play in the back wooded edge areas of our property unattended due to high coyote population. They are 5 and 3 and like to run free in our yard but you still need to know where you live and be thoughtful of what might be lurking as a danger. And don't give me crap about coyotes, plenty of documented cases of them attacking children.
Will a hunting season reduce the bear population, yes, but there will still be bears where she lives so how would a hunting season change that at all?
Alberta does have a good Bear Smart website as well that speaks to this very issue.
LINK: Alberta Bear Smart Site
Here is their brochure.
Does this matter to the victims family? Probably not one iota but there is a reality living where there are predators and no matter of the population level, you still have to be fully aware and FULLY PREPARED at all times.