Politics Trump Science in British Columbia Grizzly Bear Hunting Ban

By Ammoland Editor Joe Evans

WASHINGTON, D.C. -(Ammoland.com)- Sustainable management of wildlife in British Columbia was sucker-punched this week when the Provincial government announced the closure of grizzly bear hunting.

Protectionist politics of anti-hunters trumped sound science in a drama that could see grizzlies bear the brunt of vitriol aimed at hunter-conservationists.

To add insult to injury, officials cannot argue that they didn’t know better. In a report provided to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations by researchers from the University of Alberta (August 2015 and revised February 2016), a team led by Professor Dr. Mark Boyce of the University of Alberta recommended a number things, among which were:

“Increase the opportunities for public consultation on grizzly bear harvest management in advance of recommendations pertaining to openings or closing of harvest and changing harvest levels.

“Establish objectives for accommodating both hunting and viewing of grizzly bears, and investigate whether conflicts exist.”
Clearly, the decision to ban hunting of grizzlies was made absent meaningful public consultation and any management objectives that include hunting.
Grizzly bears have been treated like political footballs in BC for years.

“Hunting of grizzly bears has been particularly controversial in BC, both in terms of ethics and …Read the Rest

Source:: AmmoLand