Comment
I am so sad Ontario is doing this.
The 1999 ban was so clearly the correct option.
The proposed spring bear hunt is disgusting and unethical on many levels:
-There is no monitoring to enforce the prohibition on killing female bears with young. Females often stash their cubs in the dens and go foraging for food. It's important that hunters are able to identify a female, especially a nursing female.
-Female bears with cubs get killed because hunters can't tell the difference between males and females. Reference: Obbard, Martyn E. et al. (2008), “Suspended baits: Can they help hunters distinguish male from female American black bears?” Ursus 19(1): 33 – 42.
-Orphaned cubs starve or are predated. This is sickening. How can politicians countenance this? Why are ministry biologists not going public with the facts?
-I am not opposed to the hunter who tracks a wild animal and kills it with a clean shot. But this is not a hunt. This is some overweight bozo sitting in a tree and luring the animal in with junk-food bait. It is despicable.
-Such an important change in the life of our forest species should be backed up by data. There have been two pilot projects, one in 2014-15, the other in 2016-20 (still apparently ongoing). But no information has been released!!! It is a stain on the record of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and an insult to the public that a decision has been made without proper supporting evidence.
-One claim made to support this measure is that it would reduce human-bear conflcts. To the contrary, the evidence is that a ban on the spring bear hunt would have no impact on human safety.
-Another claim is that the spring bear hunt would result in economic benefits for the outfitters who cater to this trade. No evidence is produced. The general view is there will be no overall economic benefit and the proposed spring bear hunt will merely detract from the present legal fall bear hunt. I reject this prioritization of dubious increased outfitter profits over starving or predated bear cubs. Let the bears live their lives and stop this cruelty.
-Baiting. This is unsportsmanlike, unethical, and serves to lure bears into human proximity and familiarize them with human contact. Result? Nuisance bears. STOP BAITING. Instead our despicable government has facilitated more nuisance bear behaviour by reducing the minimum distance requirement for placement of bait from rights of way. Who does this benefit? Overweight bozos who find walking 200 metres a challenge and are - according to the government's plan - to be allowed to sit on bait a mere 30 metres away from rights of way, endangering the public.
-Hunting on the Saugeen-Bruce peninsula. Please! Close this hunt down.
My brother the bear, my sister the fox, I am with you in spirit. I am so sad this is happening in the beautiful land we share.
Submitted February 18, 2020 6:36 PM
Comment on
Proposed changes to black bear hunting regulations
ERO number
019-1112
Comment ID
45082
Commenting on behalf of
Comment status