Opening of fall grizzly bear hunt met by opposition from conservationists : WC Mediawire

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - The recreational killing of grizzly bears throughout BC begins again this month. Of particular concern is the impact trophy hunting is having on grizzly populations in the Great Bear Rainforest on BC’s central and north coasts. In response, the Raincoast Conservation Society and the Western Canada Wilderness Committee have launched public outreach initiatives to alert the public that the killing of grizzly bears for sport continues in BC. These efforts include Raincoast’s video ad on the hunt currently running on the 300 square foot “jumbotron” at the Vancouver PNE and the Wilderness Committee’s distribution of over 10,000 grizzly hunt postcards to their members and supporters.

“The sport hunting of coastal grizzlies is not much of a ‘sport’ as it consists of blowing away bears at their two main feeding grounds – estuaries and salmon spawning streams. There they will be shot from blinds and boats so that trophy hunters can have their fun,” said Chris Genovali, Executive Director of Raincoast Conservation Society. “As a measure of the Liberal government’s fanatical support of killing bears, Premier Gordon Campbell is also planning to allow grizzly hunting throughout all of the new parks and protected areas on the central and north coasts.”

According to wildlife scientists Dr. Brian Horejsi, Dr. Barrie Gilbert and Dr. Lance Craighead, the coastal grizzly hunt resembles a “search and destroy mission” with recreational hunters employing aircraft, electronic aids, and motorized transport along rivers and logging roads. Drs. Horejsi, Gilbert and Craighead point out that guide outfitters and resident hunters charter float planes, fly along the coast, land at road staging areas, and drive roads or take boats up rivers; some use permanent, illegal, elevated stands overlooking salmon spawning sites.

“Democratic governments can ignore the wishes of the electorate for only so long,” said Gwen Barlee, Policy Director of the Western Canada Wilderness Committee. “I believe if enough British Columbians mail in the grizzly hunt cards to the Premier explaining where they stand on this issue, we can put an end to the BC grizzly hunt once and for all”.

Contact:
Chris Genovali, Raincoast Conservation Society 250-888-3579
Gwen Barlee, Western Canada Wilderness Committee, 604-683-8220

I AM APPALLED THE HUNT FOR GRIZZLY BEARS CONTINUES IN THIS PROVINCE. IT MUST BE STOPPED! I BELIEVE, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THERE STILL IS A MORATORIUM ON GRIZZLY BEAR HUNTING. SO SHOULD IT BE IN CANADA. WHAT A DISGRACE OUR PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING THIS AND OTHER SPECIES AND THEIR HABITAT, PREFERRING TO SELL OUT TO THE HUNTERS OF THIS WORLD. I HOPE CITIZENS WILL WAKE UP TO THIS CRUELTY AND VOTE FOR THE NDP OR GREEN PARTY IN NEXT YEAR'S PROVINCIAL ELECTION IN B.C.

It blows my mind that there are people out there who enjoy killing bears, among other animals strictly for the sport of it. Obviously these people have no life and have nothing better to do with their time. What satisfaction could you possibly get from killing an innocent animal? It doesnt even stand a chance, it can't defend itself when you are shooting at it, without warning. I just hope that all these people remember: what goes around comes around.

No Bear hunting is LEGAL in the USA, and so are peoples RIGHTS TO HUNT, you may not like to hunt, and you probably do not understand it, or why anyone would. but that doesnt mean its wrong. IS it wrong if they would ban shopping malls?, in your opinion maybe not, in someone elses it may be. also it is not just a SPORT as you call it, it is a means to keep the population under control, ask anyone who has hit one with a car, or been mauled, or lost livestock or family pets to them, and YES THEY WILL EAT YOUR LITTLE TOY POODLE if given the chance, then maybe you could understand why the hunting season is in place, and it is called HUNTING and not KILLING for a reason, 15% ratio for acutally killing a bear is normal. Do you think the settlers thought twice about killing a bear for meat, the hide or protection of their cattle or family?????????, All i have to say is to each his or her thier own, but just beause you do not like they way someone else does things or what they do, PLEASE dont try to take it away from them, EVERYONE has rights INCLUDING HUNTERS, they do bring in over 13 billion dollars worth of revenue in the way of jobs, licence fees, outfitters ect ect a year through out all of NORTH AMERICA, and much of that money goes elswhere, other than back into the natural resource depts. have an open mind and treat others as you wish to be and this world will be better for it, as will you and your nieghbor

Get a job bear hunting is conservation..

Just a few comments about your complaints..
BowyerNADE you are exactly right So many of these so called conservationists complain about hunters and yet they should realize that hunters PAY FOR CONSERVATION.
Hunters want these species to survive for future generations. So some of these "city folk" should WAKE UP
and smell their pollution -- obviously none of them probably ever leave their polluted streets to spend any time in the wilderness.. If they want to support something how about growing a backbone and don't believe everything they hear and read. thx-gone hunting

Hunting bears is the best time in the world. I dont think thre season should be cancelled. Kill the bears

Yes there is a moratorium on Grizz Bear hunting in the US, and for a good reason, they dont have enough to hunt. Their numbers are very low. THat is not the case in British Columbia. There is enough. Especially when you consider that some hunter is paying big money (that is going straight to conservation) and only has a 15% chance of getting one. And yes the bears dont have any defense except their acute sense of smell and hearing, and the fact that if they got close enough they would rip you apart in a flash, even with a couple of sluggs in them.

No I am not a hunter. I personally dont feel I would enjoy killing a large mammal, then again if I tried it maybe I would like it. But I would not ever dream of takin gsomeones enjoyment away solely because of the way I feel.

Just a note in passing- all you supposed nature advocates!!
By far the majority of the photos I see in the news and on the net you people are so pathetic. You are begging for other suckers to join your cause in conserving nature but you all use wood products , paper products, and heaven forbid animal products in your everyday life. They are in every photograph..duh.. If your going to push your cause why not start with yourselves. Stop using these things yourself before you shoot your mouths off and try to get other suckers to join your cause. Thats pathetic you should be asamed of yourselves. Especially your big shots like the clowns picture on your home page.. WAKE-UP!!

You compare the likes of killing these majestic creatures with the likes of mall shopping? Sport? You stalk them with modern technology, machinery, precisely where they feed,in complete safety,and shoot them from a distance. When they are finally gone you will have to find something else to kill. Don't compare yourself to the old settlers, they needed to eat and killed to survive. Hunters do it for the trophy and thrill of killing something that could obliterate them if only given at least half of a chance.
You are all cowards!!!