I oppose the proposal to…

I oppose the proposal to implement a regular spring black bear season across the province and state that proposed changes to protect the Bruce Peninsula black bear population are inadequate.
1. Regulations to prohibit harvesting of females accompanied by cubs are unenforceable and will be ineffective.
2. Most Ontarians consider it unacceptable that young cubs are orphaned in a spring season and left to starve to death.
3. Instituting a province-wide spring black bear season cannot be justified as a way to reduce human-bear conflict.
4. Economic gain from a spring season is not substantial. A spring season mostly moves revenue to outfitters from the fall to the spring with no net gain.
5. Suspended baits should be made mandatory in order to skew the harvest towards males and protect adult females, especially should a spring season be implemented permanently.
6. The hunting season on the Bruce Peninsula should be closed completely to halt further declines in the number of bears in the population and to halt further declines in genetic diversity which would be a threat to the long-term viability of the population.