The Spring Bear Hunt should…

The Spring Bear Hunt should be abolished rather than continued. It is unethical and highly immoral for hunters to be hunting bear in spring, when bears are just out of hibernation. They are extremely hungry, weak and highly susceptible to baiting stations. Baiting bears is not hunting, but entrapment for an easy kill. Baiting is a practice that should also be banned in Ontario.

The issue of public safety to potential attacks has been blown way out of proportion by the media and supported by a small vocal group of special interests in the province. Bear encounters and attacks have been sensationalized by the media and have created an unrealistic fear of bears.

There have only been 7 black bear attacks resulting in deaths by 4 male bears in over 100 years in Ontario. By comparison from 1964 to 2010 there were 12 fatal attacks by dogs in Ontario according to the Canine Research Council. Many of the bear encounters reported as attacks are “bluff charges” resulting in no physical contact with the person. There has never been a black bear attack resulting in a fatality within a community anywhere in Canada. Of the few black bear attacks in North America over half have involved unleashed dogs.

The Mike Harris government had the good sense to abolish the spring bear hunt in 1999, in response to the genuine concerns for female bears and their cubs, in response to statistics that supported a high incidence of orphaned cubs due to females that were mistakenly and deliberately killed by hunters. The fact of the matter is that ALL bears are at risk, and deserve to be protected. Unfortunately, the Liberal government chose to ignore their own science that found no evidence that a spring bear hunt reduces human / bear conflicts, and reinstated a spring hunt pilot project in 2013. I believe along with many others that this was done in response to public safety but as the result of pressure that was brought by hunters and those who operate hunting expeditions and for economic reasons. The Ministry pulls in millions of dollars in revenue from hunting licenses and tourism.

Your proposal unfortunately includes very little if any mention of the Ministry's interest in protecting the right to life of black bears just out of hibernation. It just confirms business will be as usual in continuing where the previous liberal government left off in allowing for an official spring hunt that makes it possible for hunters and hunting expedition companies to continue killing bears in spring. If you care about the opinions of ALL Ontarions in this matter, you will also be giving serious thought and consideration to feedback that calls for a reinstatement of the ban of the spring bear hunt. This decision should not rest solely on what is right and best from an economics point of view, but must take all factors into consideration to be truly fair.

LINKS IN SUPPORT

Spring Bear Hunt and Public Safety : https://www.tvo.org/article/why-the-spring-bear-hunt-isnt-about-public-…

Say NO to Spring Bear Hunt : http://www.ontariospringbearhunt.ca/

'Political killing' or 'economic opportunity'? Ontario spring black bear hunt extended amid cheers and jeers : https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/political-killing-or-economic-op…

https://www.chroniclejournal.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/politicians-…

https://www.animalalliance.ca/campaigns/other-campaigns/spring-bear-hun…