UPDATE ON IMPORTANT COUNCIL MEETING June 13th!
DNV Council To Write Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection asking for a Review of Grouse Mountain Animal Husbandry etc….
June 13th District of North Vancouver Mayor and Council unanimously agreed to send a letter to the Minister of WLAP stating some concerns that citizens have brought up to them since a captive wolf was killed by a captive grizzly on May 24th .

Here is a list of concerns and issues that the letter should address to the Minister:

1. The Grouse Mountain Resort's Wildlife Refuge approach and overall judgment in regards to their wildlife husbandry in light of the May 24th tragedy of mixing predator species (grizzly bear and timber wolf) together in one confined area. This resulted in an alpha male timber wolf being killed by 4 yr old grizzly within 6 days of the species being forced to co-exist. The extent of consultation with North American and European authorities regarding co-habitation of captive grizzly bears and timber wolves is also a concern.

2.Suitability of denning protocols during winter months of locking grizzly bears into a den even though they are not true hibernators and need to move around and leave den site periodically. Grizzlies held in captivity at Grouse Mountain Resorts are fed on a regular basis most of the year round which interferes with their ability to slow their metabolism down and semi-hibernate when the snow and ski season arrives.

3. Questions have arisen about the extent of the collaboration with owl scientists regarding the spotted owl released after a stay at the Grouse Mountain Refuge and then later found 30 days of starvation near it's release site. Also Grouse Mountain Refuge does not have a rehabilitation permit so how was it allowed to care for a rare bird and release it?

4. Questions have arisen about the way Grouse Mountain Resorts contain and care for the many birds used for bird shows in the non-winter months.

5. It is unclear if the wildlife handlers and the Director of the Grouse Mountain Resorts Wildlife Refuge have the necessary professional academic training, experience and expertise required for caring for 'wildlife' species in captivity (e.g. post-graduate degrees in wildlife ecology/behaviour?).

6. DNV calls for a WLAP performance review of Grouse Mountain Resort's Wildlife Refuge including an assessment of the present provincial permits issued to Grouse Mountain Resorts to hold live captive wildlife and the required permit conditions and standards.

7. Expectation that a performance review will facilitate changes to the current permits and requirements to ensure proper scientific protocols are followed to ensure the most humane treatment of the animals and the most responsible, up-to-date educational teachings are delivered to visitors.

WHAT YOU CAN DO?

A letter including the above points will be drafted and checked by wildlife experts before being sent to Ministry. It will go to the following people in the Minister’s office Debbie.Cowick@gems7.gov.bc.ca ; jamie.braman@gems9.gov.bc.ca brian.Clark@gems1.gov.bc.ca John.VanHove@gov.bc.ca and hopefully the Premier: premier@gov.bc.ca as well as cc to Mayor and Council: council@dnv.org

You can do your part by also writing the above people letting them know you support an inquiry or review for the same reasons as above or possibly other reasons.

Thank you for your continued support in speaking up for the animals at Grouse Mountain Ski Resort and Kicking Horse Ski Resort.

Barbara Murray
North Shore Bear Advocate
604-924-0807
e-mail: murrlaw@shaw.ca