Alberta grizzly bear killings rise in 2013

Eleven grizzly bears were killed illegally in Alberta this year. And according to officials, poachers are to blame.

In a blog post released by the provinces Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) department, 26 confrimed human-caused grizzly deaths were reported in 2013, more than any other year in the last decade.

• Read the blog post from Alberta government

However, the number of bears poached last year were also the highest seen in years.

Officials say the numbers can be explained by increased enforcement. ButKatie Morrison with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society blames increasingencroachment into grizzly bear territory.

"That's roads, trails, anything that peopleand especially motorized vehicles can get into grizzly bear habitatand in Alberta we see a lot of that," she said.

Grizzlies are a threatened species and the province estimates that there are close to 700 bears in Alberta.

The poaching of these animals has been prohibited since 2005 and if caught, fines can go up to $100,000.