Dear North Vancouver School Trustees,

I would like to request that your Board review the field trip that many thousands of children take each year to Grouse Mountain. During the non-winter months there is a wildlife refuge that features two adolescent grizzlies and 3 film industry raised wolves along with a bird exhibit and show in summer. At Christmas time they bring in Santa’s reindeer as well.

I understand that some wildlife in captivity can not be returned to the wild and therefore must live their life out in captivity. Of course, to pay for their keep, a commercial venture will display these animals year in and year out behind electric fences and steel posts. What I question is the educational message that such commercial exhibits give out when telling their story. It is wonderful for a child or person to see a wild animal up close but are they learning to respect that animal? What are they being told about how that animal got to be behind the fence in the first place? Are there alternatives?

In the case of Grouse Mountain Ski Resort they acquired the two grizzlies as orphans from two different regions of BC when something unknown happened to their mothers.

At the time they were rescued and then given to Grouse Mountain by the authorities many of us believed that the grizzly cubs would be rehabilitated over the winter and released into the wild in the late Spring. Well, sadly this was not the case and the grizzlies never got their chance at living wild. Why not? Grizzly rehabilitation has been successful in Russian and in parts of North America going back at least to 1990. One of our three bear rehabilitators in Northern BC rehabbed 2 female grizzlies in 1996 when the authorities gave her a chance.

What we need the educational messaging to be at Grouse Mountain is one that puts the animal’s situation in to a realistic light. The animals in captivity are there firstly for entertainment value to bring profits to the owners of a business venture. Secondly people viewing these animals will learn from the volunteers and staff about the biology of these animals and see the animal in the flesh. Do they also teach that wild animals in captivity do suffer stress, they can feel sad and they can feel happy, they have feelings and a mind. No matter how large the enclosure and how good the food and how big the den this is not a natural way for a bear or wolf or bird to live. This environment is totally manipulated by man for man’s pleasure. Is this right? How could we do things differently? Why do we have orphaned and injured animals in the first place? Many good things are already taught at the top of Grouse Mountain but the true story of why the animals are there is not being told. This is disrespectful and wrong.

I am asking you, the North Vancouver School Board Members, to review what Grouse Mountain teaches our children. Ask them to teach real science, the real nature of wildlife and about wildlife rehabilitation. Giving wildlife a second chance wherever possible in this world brings back some respect that is so lacking. Please ask that the truth to be taught about these captive wild animals that can only dream about being wild.

Sincerely,

Your name
Your address

Send your letter to Larry Johnson, Director of Student and Program Services (who is responsible for this field trip being in the curriculum), and be sure to put that you want your letter to be sent to all Board members.

721 Chesterfield Ave
North Vancouver, BC, V7M 2M5

lajohnson@nvsd44.bc.ca