"Larger than Life" and killing made easy!
His crime eating roots and trusting people (Star, Sept 15).
The "legal" killing of this young grizzly bear is another raw example of "wildlife management" gone wrong. I applaud Ken C. Gabb and Richard Hartimer for bringing this issue forward. And, I also would like to thank the Star for publishing the visual truth about the bear's remains.
The unnecessary destruction of this animal points to a serious need for human behaviour to change. It is wrong that wildlife are are only viewed as "resources", "inventory" for human desires. It is what hunters want from wildlife, not what is good for wildlife, that drives goverment policies. "Conservation Officers" used to be called "Resource management officers"--the latter is more appropiate since wildlife are considered commodities instead of who they really are; sentient beings that deserve to have their own lives to themselves.
Regardless of one’s opinion/position on hunting, these grizzly bears have been habituated to humans that showed no threat to them. The person who killed this animal took full advantage of this situation and destroyed his life. This is a betrayal of the trust that was earned by the people who came before the hunter: the ones who simply wanted to appreciate the beautiful sight of the bear, and at most, take his photo.
The resource management officer Arron Koos-Young said "the bear was legally harvested animal; that hunters are permitted to shoot from the ditches" (Star, Sept 14).
Shoulders of the highway are not there to be used for any purpose, such as a parking lot for convenience hunting. They are only meant to be used for neccessary purposes, like fixing a flat tire etc.
I would ecourage anyone encountering a bear near the road to avoid conditioning the bear to being around people. Rest assured, someone will be intent on killing the bear first chance they get--"legally" or not, it is all the same to these animals; they are dead.
The rationale used to destroy the lives of animals is truly pathetic. Congratualtions to the Department of Environment-- now there is one less grizzly bear for you to count. Killed "legally"!
Mike Grieco
Whitehorse