Letter Published: Wednesday, June 14, 2006 Vancouver Province After the death of his mother four years ago, grizzly bear cub Boo seemed destined for a captive life, first at Grouse Mountain and then in a wildlife refuge at a Golden ski resort. But now he’s burrowed out under an electric fence after catching the scent of a grizzly sow. It seems that, in Boo’s case, rehabilitation combined with instinct was indeed successful, as he has smelled the call of the wild. 

Why can’t this young animal be allowed to remain free as long as he stays clear of human habitation? His instincts are clearly intact, he has hibernated successfully in care — and food is plentiful in the bush through the summer to allow him to adapt to finding his own. As a young male bear, he may face attacks from older male bears or other hazards that all wild animals face. But why can he not be given the chance? To recapture an animal that poses no threat and is doing well in a natural habitat in order to neuter him and return him to captivity so humans can gawk at him for cash is wrong-headed thinking. 

Let Boo have his chance at freedom and only recapture him if he appears to be in trouble. People who really want to see grizzly bears can now take advantage of a number of excellent eco-locations in B.C. For once we need to think of the animal, not just our own greed. Elizabeth Thunstrom, 

Coquitlam  © The Vancouver Province 2006