http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/parksville_qualicumbeachnews/news/43813052.html

Parksville Qualicum Beach News
Wildlife facility cries foul on funding
These two young bruins are currently awaiting release this summer, along with two others, from Errington's North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre.

By Fred Davies - Parksville Qualicum Beach News
Published: April 27, 2009 4:00 PM

A Ministry of Environment announcement of $400,000 in funds for a North Vancouver centre to prepare bears for return to the wild is receiving harsh criticism from the experienced bear rehabbers at Errington's North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre.

The centre's founder, Robin Campbell, has overseen successful release of more than 20 bears in 13 years with four more young bruins lined up for release this summer. He said money about to be spent on a planned Fromme Mountain facility, just east of Grouse Mountain on 32 hectares of land, is "like a slap in the face for the rest of us ... it's not a good location and it's not based on science.

"There will be feeding stations, so not only will the bears be competing among themselves but wild bears will smell that two miles away. Bears are smart. They'll throw a tree over the electric fence and walk over."

Those are but a few of Campbell's criticisms; misgivings that are echoed in a report from the consultant hired by the Ministry of Environment to investigate the project's suitability.

In a copy of a leaked document with recommendations for black bear rehabilitation in B.C. obtained by The News the author, Christopher Parker, "strongly recommends that MoE not fund [the] proposal" overseen by Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife with involvement of Langley's Critter Care Wildlife Society.

Among reasons cited were: concentrations of bears on site, disease factors, potential for breach of the electric fence perimeter, a lack of consultation and "concerns [that] exist about one of the principals' experience and standing in the community and ability to provide best possible care."

The report states further "there's a strong perception that Dr. Macquisten's involvement with wildlife in movies and his corporate employment places him in conflict of interest with rehabilitation goals, aims and standards of care ... Although Dr. Macqusiten sees his operation as "experts" based on care of two Grizzly Bears, others do not share this view."

Ken Macquisten, managing director and veterinarian at the Grouse Mountain wildlife refuge that will operate the new facility, dismissed concern raised by groups like animal protection charity ZooCheck Canada. Animal mishaps outlined by ZooCheck, and occurring under Macquisten's watch, include the 2004 death of a cub inside a locked hibernation den at Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge, a closure that same year of Grouse Mountain ski hill after the escape of two Grizzly cubs and a wolf said to be killed in front of visitors to the centre after it was placed in an enclosure shared with bears.

Macquisten was reluctant to say much when telephoned by The News, instead faxing a prepared statement responding to criticisms of the Fromme Mountain project.

"It is disturbing to have a few people who purportedly have animal welfare at their heart attacking an institution's credibility and to launch politically motivated personal attacks rather then debating honestly the merits and benefits of the program," reads the letter.

"The concept is simple. Receive orphan bears into primary care enclosures at the local wildlife shelter.

"When they no longer require primary care ... move them to a larger holding facility, until such time as they can optimally be released."

The statement points out the not-for-profit project will not be open to the public and shares no commercial interest with Grouse Mountain Resorts that will dedicate land to the project.

The death of the cub at the Kicking Horse refuge is described as tragic consequence of a twisted intestine, "a tragic and unavoidable abdominal problem not unique to bears."

Macquisten directly answered questions posed about measures chosen to sequester as many as 25 bears at the site.

"The electric fencing will be installed by the same contractor who's been on contract to protect virtually every landfill project in the province of B.C." he said.

Environment Minster Barry Penner, on the campaign trail in the Fraser Canyon, could not be reached but in a phone message he described the bear rehabilitation centre as "a pilot project to try something new ... It can be thought of as something like secondary school to prepare bears for graduation from captivity and release into the wild."

Penner said the bears will gain opportunity to practice survival skills like denning and will be fed from a remote control food delivery system when the first animals arrive from Critter Care, likely in September.

The North Shore centre's approach appears to be government response to the prospect of more bears requiring captive care after recent policy change. An announcement by the environment minister in 2004 directed orphan cubs be saved, wherever possible, rather than euthanized.

Black bear/human encounters have become increasingly prevalent on the North Shore and every year in the province approximately 700 black bears are destroyed due to conflicts.

Whatever the reasons for the new model, wildlife workers like Robin and Sylvia Campbell at NIWRC remain furious that they, and three other bear rehabilitation centre's across the province, were overlooked in favour of the Grouse Mountain refuge - a centre with no proven track record in bear rehabilitation and release.

Sylvia notes the new centre won't address Vancouver Island bear issues because the sub species here should not be mingled with those from other areas.

"We have all put hundreds of thousands of dollars and hours into doing what is right for bears, and now we're being undermined," she said. "One can only surmise that it has to do with the influential Liberal supporters from Grouse Mountain that has been able to forgo any of the protocol."