A massive grizzly bear weighing 700 pounds dominates a 2,000-square-kilometer territory in Banff National Park, where he is known to locals, annual visitors, and park staff alike.
Scientists and wardens officially designate the animal as grizzly bear 122. He is widely recognized as the Boss within Canada’s oldest national park.
The prominent predator has killed and consumed a black bear on at least one occasion. He is believed to have fathered a large portion of the bear population within his extensive home range.
The animal’s legendary status is built upon numerous survival feats. He recovered without apparent ill effect after being struck by a freight train and survived collisions with cars.
The animal’s presence regularly disrupts local traffic. Bear jams occur whenever he strolls along the Trans-Canada Highway in search of dandelions. His ongoing territorial battles with a rival animal called Split Lip have also achieved legendary status. The Boss is responsible for inflicting the injury that earned his rival’s name. His annual emergence from hibernation typically occurs around March. It receives media coverage across Alberta.
Art galleries located in Banff ship large photographs of the animal around the world. Nearby Canmore does the same. His likeness is featured on merchandise such as refrigerator magnets, T-shirts, and tote bags. A local restaurant pays homage to the creature by naming its establishment after him.
A scrap metal sculpture of the bear is the centerpiece of its main dining room.
Bear experts generally do not view the large animal as a danger to human residents or visitors despite his four-inch claws. Specialists are concerned that the bear's fame and the large crowds of devoted fans he attracts pose the greatest risks to his survival and control of his territory.
