There is no doubt the Black…

There is no doubt the Black Bear population has decreased significantly over the past decade, a fact which has been determined through the Barbed Wire Trap Study. I live on the Northern Bruce Peninsula and have spent a great deal of time in many large expanses of land between Wiarton and Tobermory, including Provincial, Federal and private lands. I have worked extensively in forestry over the past decade on the Northern Bruce Peninsula. In addition I have performed invasive species management work for various agencies on the Bruce Peninsula. As such I am in the backcountry on a regular basis for work, as well as being an avid hiker/explorer in my spare time. I would estimate I spend an average of 50 hours a week in the forest, and have done so each week for the past decade and a half in the forests throughout the Peninsula. I wanted to emphasize this because it ties in to observations I have developed over the past decade or more. I have always had a deep appreciation and a fascination of black bears and thus have paid close attention to the sign I see in the forests I frequent throughout the County. Ten to fifteen years ago bear sign was abundant, on the Northern Bruce Peninsula especially. Sightings were a frequent and regular occurrence as well as sign such as tracks, scat, claw marks on trees and root digging done by bears (such as squirrel corn).

At one time I lived in Dyer’s Bay (which is prime black bear habitat). Sightings were at the very least a weekly occurrence and often a daily occurrence as little as 10 years ago in that area. I am in Dyer’s Bay quite regularly now for both work and play and drive through each day on my way to work and haven't seen a bear in the area for 3 years now. There is sign in the bush but nothing like what it used to be. Johnsons Field has consistently been an excellent spot to see bears over the years as it is surrounded by Crown Land. Bears are seen on rare occasions there now, but very infrequently.

I often hear of local residents shooting bears out of season and disposing of the carcasses, which is hearsay but I am quite certain still a significant factor in the populations decline. Human encroachment has increased via new housing and increased tourism (which in areas like Dyer’s Bay has increased hugely in recent years) as well as road mortality, the reduction of Beech nuts as a late summer food source, legal hunting that occurs, and the various effects climate change has on bears (such as hibernation and winter energy stresses), have all contributed to the scarcity of the Peninsula's black bears.

I myself am a hunter and believe in harvesting game for sustenance, but I think maintaining a healthy population is where the line should be drawn before any more tags are handed out. The existence of a species quite obviously takes precedence over the right to hunt it. The spring bear hunt has always puzzled me. The animals are in their worst condition of the entire year, having gone through hibernation and lost a large percentage of their body weight and overall condition. Sows have been feeding cubs for weeks before emerging and would surely be quite thin. It doesn't seem like a good time to harvest an animal under the circumstances. It also seems highly plausible to me that sows must get shot who have cubs, but perhaps aren't with their mom at the moment she enters a hunters line of sight thus effectively harming bear numbers in an even greater way. The use of bear bait also creates problems, I understand most bear hunters hunt using some form of bait. I have certainly encountered many bait stations in my travels. They often feature human junk foods that lead to habituation and ill health (for example, at one pile there was a 60 gallon drum full of chocolate cake). An increased proportion of the bear diet is unnatural and unhealthy foods. This will affect fitness over time. It also allows bears to develop habits and tastes which can progress into them becoming problem bears.

I am pleased to see that the OMNR is recognizing the rapid decline of this genetically isolated population and taking measures to improve the situation, however it seems that between the findings of recent studies and all the other factors facing bears in this area that drastic measures should be taken, time is very much of the essence in order save the Bruce Peninsula bears. Hunting should be ceased entirely in the Northern Bruce Peninsula until the population has increased and stabilized.

Thank you kindly.