Aboriginal groups and animal rights advocates oppose bear hunts

By Larry Pynn, with files from Catherine Rolfsen, Vancouver Sun

March 18, 2009

Aboriginal groups stood in solidarity Tuesday with one of the world's biggest animal rights organizations in demanding the provincial government ban widely unpopular trophy hunting of bears on the B.C. coast.

Percy Starr, a Kitasoo hereditary chief and member of the Coastal First Nations coalition, told a Vancouver news conference the killing of bears for sport goes against both aboriginal culture and efforts to generate an alternative economy based on sustainable tourism.

He complained that "trophy hunters still have the privilege of slaughtering bears in front of our guests" and that his people "are determined that the bear trophy hunt must stop."

Bruce Passmore of Humane Society International/Canada promised to exert international pressure on Premier Gordon Campbell's Liberal government to end trophy hunting before the spring bear hunt begins April 1.

He urged people around the world to remember the plight of bears when considering a visit to the province, including during the 2010 Olympics, but did not call for a boycott.

"We're not at that point yet. I really think the government will make the right decision."

Environment Minister Barry Penner said a ban was not part of a conservancy plan worked out with native groups for the central and north coast.
"We're working hard to find an appropriate balance," he said.

But later Tuesday, his ministry announced it will establish three new "no hunting" areas for grizzly bears on the north and central coast and close specific areas to black bear hunting in the kermode bear range.

The grizzly restrictions cover 470,000 additional hectares effective in June; the black bear restrictions will take effect on 170,000 hectares in July.

Ministry spokeswoman Kate Thompson said about 16,000 grizzlies and 80,000 to 100,000 black bears live in B.C.

Scott Ellis, general manager of the Guide Outfitters Association of B.C., argued the bear hunt is conservative, scientifically justifiable, and a way to control populations. Trophy hunters killed 317 grizzlies in 2008 -- 218 by residents and 99 by non-residents -- down from 365 in 2007.

Another 3,476 black bears were shot in 2006, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Residents killed 2,005 and non-residents shot 1,471.

The 30,000-member B.C. Wildlife Federation also believes bear hunting is sustainable.

Ellis noted trophy hunters kill older males that would otherwise kill cubs, and often pass on smaller bears. He said hunting fees contribute to conservation programs and to rural economies, with a guided grizzly hunt fetching as much as $15,000 to $20,000 US, and $6,500 US for a black bear.

Pacific Wild's Ian McAllister said there is no fair chase because hunters are allowed to pull into estuaries, raise the motors of their boats, and legally shoot foraging bears.

McAllister complained that one prominent bear guide, Robert Milligan, continues to operate despite convictions on 23 hunting violations in 1998.

Arnie Bellis, vice-president of the Council of the Haida Nation, said the term trophy hunt is "too noble" for what actually takes place. "These are very dark days for B.C. The citizens of B.C. are not condoning it."

A recent Ipsos Reid poll showed 78 per cent of B.C. residents oppose trophy hunting of bears. The Wildlife Act requires hunters to remove black bear meat from the bush, but not grizzly meat.

Art Sterritt of Coastal First Nations said he has seen no evidence of trophy hunters killing bears for food. "Our elders have seen carcasses of bears floating down rivers denuded of their hides and heads and paws."