February 21, 2014
Speak Out for Bears by March 7! We'll Show You How.
Ontario’s provincial government stopped the spring bear hunt, which allowed
hunters to bait bears as they came out of hibernation, or chase them with
hounds and shoot them. While females were supposed to be protected, they
were often shot, leaving dependent cubs to die slowly.
or no consultation with experts, the current government, under Premier Kathleen
Wynne and Minister of Natural Resources David Orazietti, has reinstated a
spring hunt—even though independent studies and research by their own bear
biologists show that this tactic does NOT reduce conflicts with bears.
There will be an
Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR) assessment, but it ends March 7! Please send comments (but in a very specific way, if they
are to be considered). See the sample comment below,
which MUST include the EBR registry
number and title.
Using your own
words, or ours, submit the comment here.
Remember: Your comments must be received by March 7!
For the animals,
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EBR Registry Number: 012-0981, with reference to the Amendment to two
regulations to establish a two-year Black Bear Pilot Project in parts of
we know from the Ministry of Natural Resources’ own research, and by the
overview of work done by the State of New Jersey, that hunting bears not only fails
to reduce human/bear conflicts but usually leads to increases in such
conflicts, why did you reinstate any part of this activity? While we know
that female bears are protected, we also know from ample past experience that
hunters often mistake female bears, including those with dependent cubs, for males—and
shoot them. This leaves orphaned cubs. For this reason, also, we strongly
oppose the project.
know that the fully operational Bear Wise Program, while always subject to
refinement and improvement, worked very well in reducing such conflicts. Instead
of gutting it, we urge you to find ways to provide appropriate funding, as it
really did decrease bear/human conflicts.