Bear Matters BC

May 2008

Monthly Archive

Fri 23 May 2008

Grizzly Bear Sighting Confirmed on Vancouver Island

Grizzly bear sighting confirmed on Island

Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, May 21, 2008

A weekend sighting of a grizzly bear on northern Vancouver Island has wildlife officials concluding the large carnivores have migrated from the mainland and are likely here to stay.

For years, Vancouver Island residents took comfort from the fact that the province’s grizzly population, now numbering 17,000, were exclusive to the mainland.

(more…)

Sun 18 May 2008

Bear Hunt will be Last One - Council of Haida Nation

Posted by Barb under BC Info , Bear Information , Call to Action , Grizzly Bear Info , International Info , Large Carnivore Habitat Info , News
View or Post Comments

Bear hunt will be last one: CHN president, Guujaaw

http://www.qciobserver.com/Article.aspx?Id=3273&Archive=1

The trophy bear hunt on the islands underway this summer will be the last one, Guujaaw, president of the Council of the Haida Nation said Friday.
He told the Observer that it’s “an embarrassment” the hunt is continuing, since there was a commitment from the province in 2005 to end it.
“All the way through, we expected the province to come through and fulfill at least a part of their commitment there,” Guujaaw said.
He also says he has “people looking at finding funds” to buy the hunting licences, adding that similar things have happened on the coast with the white bears.
“But it seems to be easier to get people’s attention on the white bear than on our poor little black ones,” he said.
He said the CHN just doesn’t have the money to buy the licences, which he says owner Kevin Olmstead values at $1-million apiece.
“We just don’t have the money. Certainly there is money there, but everybody has their own shopping list,” he said, “there are a lot of things to do, court cases and everything.”
On this being the last hunt, Guujaaw said “this is not our blockade, it is just citizens going out to do it.” But he added “there won’t be a fall hunt because our people wouldn’t allow it.”
“..I don’t think people would tolerate another season. So basically, this will be the last one,” Guujaaw said. He did not elaborate on what that will mean in practice. It could either be buying the licences (the province, the CHN or both) or engaging in protest action to force the end of the hunt.
Licence owner Kevin Olmstead has been trying to sell the licences and the Tlell River House to the CHN since 2004. Last week, he told the Observer the ball was in the CHN’s court. This week, Guujaaw told us “basically, it is his to call”.

article created May 9, 2008 4:37 PM

Fri 9 May 2008

National Geographic Features Area in BC,AB and MT

Posted by Barb under BC Info , News
View or Post Comments

National Geographic features area

By Joni MacFarlane
Reporter
Friday May 02, 2008

National Geographic’s newest cross-border geotourism initiative featuring the Crowsnest Pass and Pincher Creek was unveiled on April 17 in Calgary.
Centered on the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, and featuring the Rocky Mountain and foothill areas of Alberta, B.C. and Montana, the initiative was undertaken to promote geotourism for a unique and special place identified as the Crown of the Continent. The region spans 42,000 square kilometres and encompasses five tribal and First Nation reserves and two World Heritage Sites.
The National Geographic and local partners, began gathering geotourism nominations from the public last year. This was used to put together a mapguide and an interactive website, which highlights the environmental and cultural heritage in the transboundary Rockies. The project represents a large collaboration between dozens of organizations including communities, tourism bureaus, conservation and business groups, educators, First Nations, government agencies and others working in the region.
Geotourism is defined by National Geographic as “tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place - its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents.” According to the Travel Industry Association of America, 55-65 million Americans fit the category of eco-tourists or eco-travellers as they are sometimes called. This equals roughly six million Canadians. “The objective of the mapguide” is to showcase the region’s most unique points of interest and to tell the broader story of a remarkable landscape beyond borders,” said Jonathan Tourtellot, director of National Geographic’s Centre for Sustainable Destinations and senior editor for the map. “The Crown of the Continent is one of the most intact natural ecosystems in the temperate region of the world. This map tells the stories tied to this very special landscape.”

(more…)

Fri 9 May 2008