For the past 13 years I’ve…

For the past 13 years I’ve lived in a black bear region south of Thunder Bay. When I first arrived there bears frequently visited my yard & left scat on all roads in my area. Today, I very seldom even see signs of bears, nor see them. I spend 3-5 hours a day in woods here, & I take precautions to protect myself & remove any enticement that would attract bears. Bears do not, & have not, caused any unwanted issues here.

With vast habitat destruction, the idea of a wild animal still surviving near me was wonderful. I object to those people who do not live with bears to come here from elsewhere to kill these great animals. They apparently have little love of nature by killing such a symbol of wilderness & an important species for the survival of the natural habitat.

Also, since the MNR makes money from the bear hunt, this is a clear indication of a conflict of interest. An independent body should make the decision of a spring bear hunt. As a volunteer for many organizations over the years, I’ve never been to a meeting where one does not recuse themselves due to a conflict of interest. It is unethical for the MNR to decide about a spring bear hunt.