Yet again, after living in…

Yet again, after living in Northwestern Ontario for 68 years, I am compelled to try and 'knock some sense' into my provincial government's head regarding the spring bear hunt.

This issue has been quite bipolar when it comes to reasoning, but the FACT still stand true: female bears with cubs MUST be protected. A hunter eagerly seeking a kill WILL mistake the sex of a bear, as mother bears keep cubs frequently treed, or kept away from their mother while she forages. I HAVE WITNESSED this many times over the decades. Motherless cubs dont stand a chance of survival on their own.

Baiting should never take place - again, it certainly attracts bears, especially females with treed cubs. Baiting is also a sham method of 'hunting' and the use of hounds/dogs to chase, tree and/or otherwise harass bears should be immediately deemed illegal. I HAVE WITNESSED this harassment of bears, and the damage inflicted on dogs by a self-defending bear. The whole picture is one of a complete, cruel calamity.

The spring bear hunt is nothing but a cheap, money-making, destructive resource extraction in the name of 'controlling wildlife, public safety' or to simply support a few wildlife outfitters who neverendingly bemoan their inability to wantonly reap wildlife, particularly bears. They only wish to wallow in this proposed 'economic boon'.

An argument of safety for the public is also far too lame; as since the time of my grandparents who homesteaded in the boreal, the same advice remains: it's all about common sense with foodstuffs; make noise and leash your dog when walking in the bush; and respect the bear!

The proposal to make the spring bear hunt a permanent raping of a very necessary resource - necessary for the hope of a continued, balanced food chain in the boreal forest - is utterly unconscionable!

Shame on the Ford government for proposing this whole mess again.