From: Barb Murray [mailto:bearsmatter@shaw.ca]
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 8:26 AM
To: 'ralph.sultan.mla@leg.bc.ca'; 'joan.mcintyre.mla@leg.bc.ca'
Cc: Jane Thornthwaite; Tom.Ethier@gov.bc.ca; 'Sundquist, Lance ENV:EX'
Subject: Mis-Information in North Shore Outlook re: MLA's quotes

Dear Mr. Sultan and Ms. McIntyre,

I would like to correct an impression you both have on the orphan cub situation on the North Shore. I have worked with nuisance bears on the North Shore from 2001 to 2008. There has only been one, maybe two orphan cubs, taken off the North Shore in 4 years that Critter Care has taken in cubs. Out of 57 cubs only one or two have been North Shore cubs.

These cubs and most of the cubs Critter Care receives are not from the killing of mother bears by conservation officers. Can you imagine the public relations nightmare if the Conservation officer service starting killing mothers with cubs under 12mos? Especially in the cities of the Lower Mainland. They just will not do it unless it is a very critical situation. Thank goodness black bear mothers are not as aggressive as myths first lead us to believe. Mother bears would rather run or climb trees than fight.

So please do not use the argument that there will be lots of orphan cubs due to the conservation officer’s work with nuisance bears and therefore you must spend tax dollars to grant a private corporation for a secondary care facility on a public mountain which is overrun with mountain bikers etc… Please bring some expertise and real facts into the discussion that are easily obtainable thru the conservation officer service pertaining to numbers of rescued orphan cubs and their history. I believe there has been no orphan euthanized on the Lower Mainland since 2005 because there has been no room at a present rehab facility and I don’t expect numbers to jump out of control in 2009? Please confirm this with your conservation officer service department.

Thank you for taking the time to read this during your busy time of campaigning and hope you will bring better information forward in the future when speaking of orphan cubs on the Lower Mainland or anywhere in BC.

Sincerely,

Barbara Murray
Bear Matters BC
(formerly of North Vancouver)
Nanoose Bay