Hunting Status On Grizzly Bears in British Columbia, Canada
Encyclopedia
Grizzly bear
hunting
has become a hotly debated issue in British Columbia
. On one side are government bodies like the BC Ministry of Environment, various First Nations
and the BC Wildlife Federation arguing for the continued sustainable harvest
of grizzly bears. On the other side are various non-governmental organizations pressuring for the end to the grizzly hunt.
. Obtaining a hunting license
can be a complicated process. Applicants must provide proof of successful completion of the Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) program. This program focuses on important topics such as: conservation, ethics, laws and regulations. It ensures that prospective hunters meet an acceptable standard of knowledge for safe and ethical participation in hunting. A Canadian Firearms licence
must be obtained in addition to a hunting licence. The hunt is conducted through a Limited Entry Hunting (LEH) system by which hunting opportunities are awarded according to the estimated allowable harvest. This system is based on a lottery
for residents and non-residents are required to be accompanied by guide-outfitters who also have a maximum quota
for a given area. The LEH allows for wildlife management
objectives to be met. LEH seasons limit the number of hunters and thus the number of grizzly bears that can be harvested per geographic area.
than those GPBUs that are lower in quality. This is because it is assumed that lower quality habitats can sustain less human-caused mortality. In some areas hunting is strictly prohibited. These include areas where the grizzly bear population is unstable or decreasing. Additionally, many areas like national wildlife areas
, bird sanctuaries, ecological reserves
, national parks are closed to hunting. Recently, an additional 470,000 hectares were designated ‘no-hunt’ zones in British Columbia. Hunting is also prohibited while the grizzly bear are swimming, near water, or near dykes.
. This is partly because grizzly bear mothers make great mothers; they are extremely protective of their young. Additionally, grizzlies are at the top of their food chain and as such have access to resources and no real predators. More so, cubs are protected from hunters, as previously mentioned. In fact one of the biggest threats to cubs are adult male grizzlies. This is because grizzly bears practice sexually selected infanticide
, in which new males will kill the previous dominant male’s cubs in order to mate with the female mother. Since males have shown to be more susceptible to harvest, due to their larger size which represents a larger trophy, it was suggested that hunting would increase infanticide. A study in 2005 found that there was no apparent increase in infanticide in areas where hunting was permitted and areas where hunting was prohibited.
Not only is hunting highly regulated but the money generated from hunting through license fees, taxes, and other special fees help to fund grizzly bear research, habitat protection, and management. In fact, the biggest threat to grizzly bears is the loss of habitat
and fragmentation, not hunting.
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
has become a hotly debated issue in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. On one side are government bodies like the BC Ministry of Environment, various First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
and the BC Wildlife Federation arguing for the continued sustainable harvest
Sustainable yield
The sustainable yield of natural capital is the ecological yield that can be extracted without reducing the base of capital itself, i.e. the surplus required to maintain ecosystem services at the same or increasing level over time. This yield usually varies over time with the needs of the...
of grizzly bears. On the other side are various non-governmental organizations pressuring for the end to the grizzly hunt.
Regulations
The grizzly bear hunt in BC is heavily regulated, with a focus on population managementPopulation control
Human population control is the practice of artificially altering the rate of growth of a human population.Historically, human population control has been implemented by limiting the population's birth rate, usually by government mandate, and has been undertaken as a response to factors including...
. Obtaining a hunting license
Hunting license
A hunting license is a regulatory or legal mechanism to control recreational and sports hunting.Hunting may be regulated informally by "unwritten law", "self restraint", or "morality" and by laws "enforced by government authority."...
can be a complicated process. Applicants must provide proof of successful completion of the Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Education (CORE) program. This program focuses on important topics such as: conservation, ethics, laws and regulations. It ensures that prospective hunters meet an acceptable standard of knowledge for safe and ethical participation in hunting. A Canadian Firearms licence
Firearms licence
A firearms licence is a licence or permit issued by some Governments of a country , that allows the licensee to buy, own, possess, and use firearms, often subject to a number of conditions or restrictions, especially with regards to storage requirements or the completion of a firearms...
must be obtained in addition to a hunting licence. The hunt is conducted through a Limited Entry Hunting (LEH) system by which hunting opportunities are awarded according to the estimated allowable harvest. This system is based on a lottery
Lottery
A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of lottery by governments...
for residents and non-residents are required to be accompanied by guide-outfitters who also have a maximum quota
Quota share
A quota share is a specified number or percentage of the allotment as a whole , that is prescribed to each individual entity ....
for a given area. The LEH allows for wildlife management
Wildlife management
Wildlife management attempts to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of people using the best available science. Wildlife management can include game keeping, wildlife conservation and pest control...
objectives to be met. LEH seasons limit the number of hunters and thus the number of grizzly bears that can be harvested per geographic area.
Grizzly Bear Harvest
The grizzly bear harvest is managed using BC’s Grizzly Bear Harvest Procedure Manual, which divides areas into grizzly bear population units (GBPUs). GBPUs are defined as areas comprising reasonably distinct grizzly bear population segments or subpopulations. Using this methodology, GBPUs deemed to be of higher quality receive a higher allowable human caused mortality rateMortality rate
Mortality rate is a measure of the number of deaths in a population, scaled to the size of that population, per unit time...
than those GPBUs that are lower in quality. This is because it is assumed that lower quality habitats can sustain less human-caused mortality. In some areas hunting is strictly prohibited. These include areas where the grizzly bear population is unstable or decreasing. Additionally, many areas like national wildlife areas
National Wildlife Area
A National Wildlife Area is a conservation status for a geographical region in Canada that restricts most human activities on that region. However, land use permits may be issued "for activities that are compatible with conservation". Such areas are established and managed by the Canadian Wildlife...
, bird sanctuaries, ecological reserves
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
, national parks are closed to hunting. Recently, an additional 470,000 hectares were designated ‘no-hunt’ zones in British Columbia. Hunting is also prohibited while the grizzly bear are swimming, near water, or near dykes.
Role of the BC Ministry of Environment
The BC Ministry of Environment uses a maximum harvest rate of 6%, which is conservative considering sustainable harvest rates have been determined to be as high as 9%. The maximum allowable harvest rate during a period is estimated as a rate expressed as a proportion of the current population estimate. The allowable harvest rate is based on the concept that the removal of a certain number of individuals from a population will not result in a permanent reduction in population size. The allowable harvest in each area also takes into effect an estimate of unknown human-caused mortality and an estimate of known non-hunting mortality, which is calculated for total bears and female bears exclusively. In actuality, the harvest rate in many areas is between 2-4%. The 6% maximum set by government is based on work by Harris that suggested that total harvest rates below 6.35% did not lead to a population decline. BC’s grizzly bear harvest management is based on a “tracking” method that allows the adjustment of the number of hunters in relation to perceived increases or decreases in estimated grizzly bear numbers. Essentially, if the grizzly bear population is perceived to be declining in a given area then the number of hunters allowed in that same area will be reduced. This works because there is a provincial wide one-bag limit. This strategy ensures the continued sustainable hunt.BC Hunter’s Stance
Hunters in BC are prohibited from killing adult female grizzly bears that are accompanied by young or any grizzly bear that is younger than 2 years old. Failure to adhere to these rules can result in extensive fines. Any kill must be inspected by a Compulsory Inspector within the allotted time. Another reason that supports the sustainable hunting of grizzly bears is that grizzly bear cubs enjoy a high survival rateSurvival rate
In biostatistics, survival rate is a part of survival analysis, indicating the percentage of people in a study or treatment group who are alive for a given period of time after diagnosis...
. This is partly because grizzly bear mothers make great mothers; they are extremely protective of their young. Additionally, grizzlies are at the top of their food chain and as such have access to resources and no real predators. More so, cubs are protected from hunters, as previously mentioned. In fact one of the biggest threats to cubs are adult male grizzlies. This is because grizzly bears practice sexually selected infanticide
Infanticide
Infanticide or infant homicide is the killing of a human infant. Neonaticide, a killing within 24 hours of a baby's birth, is most commonly done by the mother.In many past societies, certain forms of infanticide were considered permissible...
, in which new males will kill the previous dominant male’s cubs in order to mate with the female mother. Since males have shown to be more susceptible to harvest, due to their larger size which represents a larger trophy, it was suggested that hunting would increase infanticide. A study in 2005 found that there was no apparent increase in infanticide in areas where hunting was permitted and areas where hunting was prohibited.
Not only is hunting highly regulated but the money generated from hunting through license fees, taxes, and other special fees help to fund grizzly bear research, habitat protection, and management. In fact, the biggest threat to grizzly bears is the loss of habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
and fragmentation, not hunting.
External links
- Grizzly bearGrizzly BearThe grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
- Endangered speciesEndangered speciesAn endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...