Article content

BANFF — He’s commonly known as the Boss — and, according to research data, he lives up to his moniker.

Grizzly bear No. 122, believed to be approximately 15 years old, is the largest, toughest and most dominant grizzly bear in Banff, Yoho and Kootenay national parks.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or The life of 'The Boss': The biggest, toughest, meanest grizzly bear in Western Canada's national parks Back to video

“His entire world revolves around food, and mating,” said Steve Michel, human/wildlife conflict specialist with Banff National Park.

No. 122, who was the first bear out of his den this spring, has also made headlines for breaking into a dump, eating a couple of black bears, strolling through Banff’s Central Park in the middle of the day and fathering at least five of the park’s younger bears.

He has also provided some valuable data during his time as one of the 26 bears collared during the past five years as part of a research project that’s working to reduce grizzly bear mortality on the railway tracks.

From April 2012 to April 2013, wildlife officials were able to keep closer tabs on the then 210-kilogram male bear after he was trapped and fitted with a GPS collar. He dropped it a month later, but was re-collared on May 29, 2012, when his weight had already gone up by 10 kilograms.