I oppose ERO 019-0022, to…

I oppose ERO 019-0022, to reduce minimum distance requirement for placement of bait from rights of way and trails for black bear hunting.

This proposal will result in a greater risk to human-bear conflict. Other wildlife will frequent bait piles and their lives will be at risk.

This would also increase the probability of vehicle-wildlife traffic collisions. Thousands of Ontario drivers are already negatively impacted by wildlife-vehicle collisions.

Recreationalists such as bird watchers, hikers, dog walkers, photographers, geocachers, and families may be put at risk as a result of this move. As these recreationalists, who are not hunters, use wild spaces, regulations should be put in place to protect them – not increase the possibility or probability that they will be harmed by hunting and hunting-related activities such as baiting.