Dear Minister Yakabuski and…

Dear Minister Yakabuski and Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry staff,

The Fur-Bearers – a national wildlife not-for-profit with staff, volunteers, and supporters residing in Ontario – actively opposes 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 – the very thing the government first said the spring bear hunt was required to reduce. Intentionally bringing bears closer to the public, most of whom are not hunters or trained in firearm and hunting safety, as well as other wildlife who will frequent bait piles is reckless and irresponsible.

This would also increase the probability of vehicle-wildlife traffic collisions, which costs taxpayers and drivers through increased insurance rates, property damage, loss of work or life, and road maintenance and prevention materials. Thousands of Ontario drivers are already negatively impacted by wildlife-vehicle collisions – and that’s without intentionally bringing animals closer to the road.

Any support for this regulation is support for increasing negative encounters between people and wildlife and puts human and non-human life at risk – hunters and non-hunters alike. We ask that you reject this proposal with prejudice.