Bear Matters BC

Raised in a famous hunting family, I grew up as a hunter but as society evolved away from hunting so did we too.  Unfortunately, the authors of proposed changes to the BC Wildlife Act are mired in a past when it was necessary to kill animals in order to survive.  As society has become more civilized in its approach to wildlife, hunter numbers have declined by 50% since 1982.  The BC Government’s response is to “recruit” 20,000 new hunters into BC forests - even targeting women and children for a “quality hunting experience”.  This is nothing short of a desperate attempt to prop up a dying hunting culture.
 In a civilized society, wild animals should not be viewed as a commodity to be “managed” for the “harvest” and I think most people would be shocked to know that this is the view held by the BC Ministry of Environment.  Morally, this document is wrong but politically it is just plain stupid and a ridiculous attempt to hang on to outdated rhetoric and values.
 

Over the last 12 years of my work in Russia, I saw wealthy Canadian hunters behave in the most disgraceful way - shooting from helicopters, upgrading the size of bear, moose and sheep trophies by killing larger ones and dumping the smaller.  One guide, himself disgusted, told me of a single hunter who killed 5 animals on one species/permit.   Enough money and an unscrupulous guide is all that is needed.  
 Trophy hunting Canadians, in significant numbers, are contributing to this unscrupulous trend leading to seriously declining populations of bear, sheep and moose in Russia today. 
If BC hunter/outfitters are allowed to self-regulate, if licenses are made cheaper, regulations downgraded because they are too “restrictive” and it is easier to ship trophy heads home, the doors will be wide open to the same kind of hunters.
 
Ministry officials say hunters are necessary to ensure balanced population numbers within various species. I have lived where predators are no longer killed indiscriminately and this is simply not true. When allowed to live as nature intended, species find equilibrium. They don’t need hunters to help them do it. When Ontario ended the spring Bear hunt in 1998 because so many females are killed with dependent cubs, the population of black bears did not explode as hunter special interests predicted.
 

Statistics prove that eco-tourism brings far more money into the BC economy than hunting.  For every dollar brought into the province by a hunter with a gun, four or more is brought in by a tourist hunting with a camera.  Why not capitalize on that trend?  Be innovative by shifting the focus to wildlife viewing and fostering new technologies to protect our wildlife and habitat.  Be on the cutting edge of the green theme that Premier Campbell says he advocates.
 I understand it is hard to change deep rooted habits but history moves with change and BC should be on the leading edge of the massive shift taking place in the world with respect to conservation and protection of environment and wildlife.  What we do here in BC is news around the world in seconds so why not make it good news?   
 

BC’s place in the world when it comes to conservation of habitat and protection of wildlife will be a direct result of Minister of Environment, Mr. Penner’s vision for the future through changes to the Wildlife Act and other policies.  Will he look back or will he look forward? This will be his legacy. 
  In a letter to Minister Penner, I have asked him to put these proposed Wildlife Act changes on hold and to reconsider the direction he will take on this issue. It will be disappointing to me and many others here and around the world, if he makes the wrong choice.
 Charlie Russell
Box 523
Twin Butte, Alberta
T0K2J0