Jason Leo Bantle has closely followed Banff’s grizzly bear hierarchy for a decade, particularly bear No. 122, known as The Boss, who is now in his mid-to-late twenties and weighs between 650 and 700 pounds. While The Boss has long ruled the Bow Valley, competition has arisen from bear No. 136, Split Lip, leading to territorial disputes and signs of aging in The Boss, like recent facial scars. As hibernation approaches, some bears remain active due to environmental factors and food availability, underscoring the need for safety measures for outdoor enthusiasts. Bantle emphasizes that The Boss’s potential decline could affect his mating status among female bears, impacting his dominance in the area.
