Ian McAllister photo of grizzliesFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:     

JUNE 10, 08 MEDIA CONTACT: IAN MCALLISTER, PACIFIC WILD, Email: info@pacificwild.org ( no affiliation or relation to McAllister Opinion Research) 

Seven out of Ten British Columbians want to see an end to the grizzly hunt 

Economics, science and ethics all cited as reasons for record level of support 

Victoria, BC – Over seven out of ten (73%)  British Columbians, including hunters, now support a total ban on the trophy hunt for BC’s grizzly bears according to a new province-wide poll conducted by McAllister Opinion Research for the BC based conservation group, PACIFIC WILD. “Since Premier Campbell re-instituted the BC trophy hunt for grizzlies in 2001, support for banning the trophy hunt has gone up 20 points across all regions of the province with a 60% support for the ban amongst licensed BC hunters,” says Nicola Gentles, Director of Research at McAllister Opinion Research.  Similarly, majority support to end the grizzly hunt is now found in all political parties:  Liberals 71%, NDP 64% and Greens 81%.  Ms. Gentles suggests that “the recent upsurge in environmental concerns across the province has ratcheted up the sense of urgency particularly when it comes to protecting iconic species like the grizzly.”  Asked why they support the trophy hunt ban, 80% of those polled cited BC as one of the last places on earth where Grizzly bears roam free and should be protected and 79% believe that the sport hunt is unethical.   A full 85% of those polled disagree with the claims of some hunting organizations that the grizzly hunt makes BC safer.  Three in four (75%) disagree that the grizzly bear trophy hunt is a traditional way of life in British Columbia. Just 18% of BC residents polled consider credible the claims made by the BC Guide Outfitters Association that the grizzly population in BC is higher than ever.  In contrast, a majority of 73% agree with the findings of independent scientists that allege that grizzly bear population estimates in BC are not scientifically reliable and therefore a ban on the trophy hunt should be supported.   A full 84% of British Columbians polled prefer “bear viewing” over “sport shooting of grizzly bears” and support the development of bear viewing as an industry.  “This poll indicates that British Columbians support the growth of our industry,” says Dean Wyatt of Knight Inlet Lodge and the Commercial Bear Viewing Association.  “But while our growth potential is strong, we will never reach it while the grizzly trophy hunt continues to give BC a black eye in the international tourism market.” Recent BC Government statistics indicate 430 - a record number of grizzly bears - were killed in 2007. “How much longer will politics trump science, economics and the wishes of an overwhelming majority of British Columbians when it comes to killing our BC grizzly bears for sport?” asks Ian McAllister, Director of Pacific Wild, a BC based wildlife conservation group (with no affiliation or relation to McAllister Opinion Research).   Mr. McAllister goes on to say, “BC grizzly bears need much stronger protection and ending the grizzly bear trophy hunt is the obvious place to begin.”  -01-FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:IAN MCALLISTER, PACIFIC WILD,   email:  info@pacificwild.orgDEAN WYATT, BC Commercial Bear Viewing Association.-  250.203.0353NICOLA  GENTLES, Research Director/ McAllister Opinion Research   604.601.2111 SUMMARY POLLING RESULTS OF BC RESIDENTS:

  • 73% (UP FROM 52% IN 2001)  support a total ban on the grizzly trophy bear hunt.
  • 75% disagreed with the Liberal Government’s decision to overturn the moratorium on the grizzly bear trophy hunt which was in place when they took office in 2001
  • 79% believe killing grizzly bears for trophies is unethical.
  • 51% were unaware that the hunting of grizzly bears is allowed in BC.
  • 79% support a ban on the trophy hunting of grizzlies in parks and conservancy areas.
  • 85% support bear viewing as an industry over bear killing for sport.
  • 68% support a ban on hunting of black bears.
  • 85% disagree with the claim that the trophy hunt of grizzly bears makes BC residents safe.
  • 73% agree with leading independent biologists that BC does not have a scientifically reliable population estimate for grizzly bears.

 BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

  • 11,000 grizzly bears have been killed in BC since 1975 (Source: David Suzuki Foundation)
  • 1,391 grizzly bears have been killed between 2004 and 2007 (David Suzuki Foundation)
  • It is BC Government policy  to permit the hunting of grizzly bears and other large carnivores in most BC Parks and Conservancy areas, including the most recent of Conservancy areas in the Great Bear Rainforest.
  • Grizzly Bears are designated as a species of special concern by the National Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, the Federal Species At Risk Act and the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species.
  • The importation of BC grizzly bear trophies is banned by the European Union, citing concern over the BC government’ management of grizzly bears.
  • A moratorium on the grizzly bear hunt was instituted by the Province of Alberta in 2008.

 POLLING METHODOLGY:This research is based on a random digit dial telephone survey of 629 British Columbians aged 18+, with oversamples in the interior regions of BC.  The survey was fielded from April 17 to April 27, 2008 inclusive.  Weighting is calculated by gender, age and region in accordance with 2006 census numbers.  A random sample of 629 British Columbians would yield a margin of error of ±3.9%, 19 times out of 20.   COMPANY AND POLLING INFORMATION:McAllister Opinion Research is a professional opinion research firm accredited with ESOMAR, the international association for public opinion research professionals.  We abide by the ICC/ESOMAR International code of Marketing and Social Research Practice.  McAllister has conducted research in over 20 nations in the past five years for industry, non-profits and government.  This includes the provinces of BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario, as well as Industry Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Health Canada, Agriculture Canada, Environment Canada and DFO.


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