As a tax paying Ontarian,…

As a tax paying Ontarian, who greatly values our environment and the animals we share it with, I am writing to urge the Ontario government to say NO to making the spring Black Bear hunt permanent. Allowing hunting of Black Bears to continue, in the spring, many cubs will be left orphaned and baiting will put humans and other animals in danger. Aside from my previous comments, not cancelling the hunt, will continue to upset, our already upset ecosystem.

Please see the below facts, about the hunt, provided by the Animal Alliance of Canada

Facts about hunting bears in the spring:
In certain areas of Ontario bears will be hunted 5.5 months of the year.
Bears hunted in the spring are vulnerable and less able to defend themselves because of weight loss during hibernation. Most bears lose 15 to 30% of their body weight and females with newborn cubs may lose as much as 40%.
Although it was illegal to kill a mother bear with cubs, the Minister’s own staff estimated that 274 bear cubs were orphaned in the spring as a result of the hunt. The newly introduced spring hunt also makes it illegal but hunters have a great deal of trouble determining whether the bears they kill are male or female and whether the females are nursing mothers. This new hunt will orphan baby bears who will suffer a prolonged and agonizing death by starvation.

I urge the Progressive Conservatives of Ontario step up to the "Progressive" part of their namesake and stand up for the animals and the environment that we share with them, as opposed to just being concerned with the small amount of tourists that the spring Black Bear hunt brings.

Please do the right thing and cancel the hunt