Conservation officers need help with B.C.'s bear problem

[IronNoggin]

The biggest reason for more problem bears is that bear populations are increasing, and as they do they expand their range, including into populated areas. Then along comes a year like 2019 where food supplies are short and, voila! Bears go after whatever is available, including what's in people’s homes, gardens, chicken houses, and wherever else something smells and tastes good.

https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/opinion/columnists/evan-saugstad-conservation-officers-need-help-with-b-c-s-bear-problem-1.24053509

 

[trevj]

Meh. My uncle, now deceased, used to buy a lot of cheap dogfood and antifreeze, whenever he went to WalMart.

His vehicles were not leaking, and he didn't have a dog.

Just saying.

The people who live in cities where they have never really seen a bear, let along actually had to deal with a problem bear, are the ones getting on line and taking part in the 'outrage of the day' in order to push policy against hunting bears or simply shooting them when they are a problem.

 

[dmcdam]

Meh. My uncle, now deceased, used to buy a lot of cheap dogfood and antifreeze, whenever he went to WalMart.

His vehicles were not leaking, and he didn't have a dog.

Just saying.

The people who live in cities where they have never really seen a bear, let along actually had to deal with a problem bear, are the ones getting on line and taking part in the 'outrage of the day' in order to push policy against hunting bears or simply shooting them when they are a problem.

Not just BC either. Here in Ontario we had a bear somehow find his way into Scarborough (very densely populated part of Toronto). It treed in a back yard with police on scene while they tried to scramble MNR Officers to attend the scene. Long story short, it came down out of the tree right about when all kinds of people were on the streets and kids walking to school, so the cops killed it. Well, the city pretty much lost their mind over it.

 

['Boo]

If the Province of BC wants to reduce the black bear population they should start by reducing the cost of a the tag. Why in the world does a BB tag cost 25% more than a deer tag?

 

[44fordy]

Not just BC either. Here in Ontario we had a bear somehow find his way into Scarborough (very densely populated part of Toronto). It treed in a back yard with police on scene while they tried to scramble MNR Officers to attend the scene. Long story short, it came down out of the tree right about when all kinds of people were on the streets and kids walking to school, so the cops killed it. Well, the city pretty much lost their mind over it.

I reside in Ontario and Quebec, and I hunt both provinces plus Alberta.

And from all I've seen, the bears are not only abundant, in a lot of cases they are a nuisance / problem.

Luckily not MY problem. The government keeps restricting or cancelling bear hunts and bear seasons, so they can have the whole f*ck1ng bear PROBLEM for all I care.

The only time the government values the opinion or advice from a hunter is ... well never. They'll ask a cab driver for information on wildlife before they ask a hunter.

F@ck'em. They made their bed, they can sleep in it.

 

[45ACPKING]

weird...… couldn't even find a bear this past season around here. I didn't get out much but friends who are avid bear hunters met little success this year in the areas they usually have no problem filling their tags in. Perhaps they have moved off from the northern fringes of the elephant hill fire area or a whole lotta bears died in that fire.
It's strange that there was zero bear sign on our property this year too, whereas every year in the past they come through in fall for the garden remnants and my neighbors apple trees. All untouched this year. On the bright side, the numbers of deer visiting our yard this year was off the charts. I coulda filled my tags off my back deck with a crossbow with ease LOL

 

[Suther]

Meh. My uncle, now deceased, used to buy a lot of cheap dogfood and antifreeze, whenever he went to WalMart.

His vehicles were not leaking, and he didn't have a dog.

Just saying.

The people who live in cities where they have never really seen a bear, let along actually had to deal with a problem bear, are the ones getting on line and taking part in the 'outrage of the day' in order to push policy against hunting bears or simply shooting them when they are a problem.

Depending where you live, you get lots of problem bears in the city. I'm a 10 minute walk to the skytrain and they are in my complex all the damn time.

If the Province of BC wants to reduce the black bear population they should start by reducing the cost of a the tag. Why in the world does a BB tag cost 25% more than a deer tag?

And how would that solve anything? The tag isn't expensive by any means. If bear numbers are such a problem they should increase bag limits. Of course, I can't shoot the ones running through my complex so a change in bag limit won't do anything for the suburban problem bear.

The real solution (in my area) is getting tough on attractants. Garbage is a huge draw for them in my area, better enforcement of the laws regarding when you can put out your trash is needed.

 

[45ACPKING]

Depending where you live, you get lots of problem bears in the city. I'm a 10 minute walk to the skytrain and they are in my complex all the damn time.



And how would that solve anything? The tag isn't expensive by any means. If bear numbers are such a problem they should increase bag limits. Of course, I can't shoot the ones running through my complex so a change in bag limit won't do anything for the suburban problem bear.

The real solution is getting tough on attractants. Garbage is a huge draw for them in my area, better enforcement of the laws regarding when you can put out your trash is needed.

I think that garbage is just one small issue facing bears.
These problems compound every time some developer pushes up a slope surrounding the lowermainland. How many communities have been built on the hillside surrounding the fraser basin in the lowermainland. All former bear habitat and people wonder why the bears are continually returning LOL
silly stupid monkeys …. they will never learn that the black bear isn't the problem..... they are, because they bought a home from a developer who destroyed bear habitat to build that fancy hillside home.
Then I see these same silly monkeys on TV blaming the bc conservation service for the problems in their neighborhoods.

the problem is humans period and I'm afraid the issue with bears will continue regardless because you can't fix stupid.

stop encroaching on the lowermainland wilderness to build more fancy subdivisions and these things will work themselves out over time just like they have in most rural communities that do not get inundated with problem bears though there are bears a plenty in the forests surrounding them.

 

[ruffbird]

I reside in Ontario and Quebec, and I hunt both provinces plus Alberta.

And from all I've seen, the bears are not only abundant, in a lot of cases they are a nuisance / problem.

Luckily not MY problem. The government keeps restricting or cancelling bear hunts and bear seasons, so they can have the whole f*ck1ng bear PROBLEM for all I care.

The only time the government values the opinion or advice from a hunter is ... well never. They'll ask a cab driver for information on wildlife before they ask a hunter.

F@ck'em. They made their bed, they can sleep in it.

 

['Boo]

Depending where you live, you get lots of problem bears in the city. I'm a 10 minute walk to the skytrain and they are in my complex all the damn time.



And how would that solve anything? The tag isn't expensive by any means.

No, but a lot of hunters who don't normally hunt bear may be inclined to buy a tag in case they bump one incidentally while out hunting something else.

 

[Suther]

I think that garbage is just one small issue facing bears.
These problems compound every time some developer pushes up a slope surrounding the lowermainland. How many communities have been built on the hillside surrounding the fraser basin in the lowermainland. All former bear habitat and people wonder why the bears are continually returning LOL
silly stupid monkeys …. they will never learn that the black bear isn't the problem..... they are, because they bought a home from a developer who destroyed bear habitat to build that fancy hillside home.
Then I see these same silly monkeys on TV blaming the bc conservation service for the problems in their neighborhoods.

the problem is humans period and I'm afraid the issue with bears will continue regardless because you can't fix stupid.

stop encroaching on the lowermainland wilderness to build more fancy subdivisions and these things will work themselves out over time just like they have in most rural communities that do not get inundated with problem bears though there are bears a plenty in the forests surrounding them.

My townhouse complex was built on the 70s, so it's not just new developments that are the issue. I'm also very close to the Coquitlam River though, which gives them an easy way to move around.

No, but a lot of hunters who don't normally hunt bear may be inclined to buy a tag in case they bump one incidentally while out hunting something else.

They're like $20, and I don't know anyone who has any interest in hunting bears that doesn't due to the tag cost. Most of us spend more than that on gas just getting to a hunting spot. Even if they were free I doubt you'd increase bear harvest numbers by much.

 

[FLHTCUI]

If the Province of BC wants to reduce the black bear population they should start by reducing the cost of a the tag. Why in the world does a BB tag cost 25% more than a deer tag?

As Moe Sihota the former NDP Minister of Environment about that.
He was the one that put the surcharge on that tag back in the day.
That was around the time one could legally sell the gall bladder from a legally harvested Black Bear.
Rob

 

[nowarningshot]

Across the strait, in Powell river, the entire town is covered in Black Bears. Occasionally a juvenile Grizzly, looking for a territory, as they are on the coast of the coast mountains. A town of 15k, with say 40-50 bears shot annually.

A great reason to carry a 45/70 when hunting lilliputian blacktail.

 

[woodchopper]

Depending where you live, you get lots of problem bears in the city. I'm a 10 minute walk to the skytrain and they are in my complex all the damn time.



And how would that solve anything? The tag isn't expensive by any means. If bear numbers are such a problem they should increase bag limits. Of course, I can't shoot the ones running through my complex so a change in bag limit won't do anything for the suburban problem bear.

The real solution (in my area) is getting tough on attractants. Garbage is a huge draw for them in my area, better enforcement of the laws regarding when you can put out your trash is needed.

well perhaps they need to open a special spear hunting season

 

[Butcherbill]

If the Province of BC wants to reduce the black bear population they should start by reducing the cost of a the tag. Why in the world does a BB tag cost 25% more than a deer tag?

A buy one get one free would be fine with me. I’m in reg8 and there is a #### ton of black bear activity, like more than you can shake a stick at. I’d shoot two if they did a two for one tag option, I split a bear last season with a friend and man is it ever good eating. I wouldn’t say no to more bear sausage and ground burger meat next year, my wife really liked it as well so I have no worries when it comes to bear meat in the house. Hell I might just shoot two anyway next year, a spring and a fall beat for comparison.

 

[verminaard]

I reside in Ontario and Quebec, and I hunt both provinces plus Alberta.

And from all I've seen, the bears are not only abundant, in a lot of cases they are a nuisance / problem.

Luckily not MY problem. The government keeps restricting or cancelling bear hunts and bear seasons, so they can have the whole f*ck1ng bear PROBLEM for all I care.

They finally brought back the spring bear hunt in a number of WMU’s over the last 5 years.

 

[CrazyNut]

I wouldn't mind going out there and bagging a few bear.

 

[Paul_T]

A buy one get one free would be fine with me. I’m in reg8 and there is a #### ton of black bear activity, like more than you can shake a stick at. I’d shoot two if they did a two for one tag option, I split a bear last season with a friend and man is it ever good eating. I wouldn’t say no to more bear sausage and ground burger meat next year, my wife really liked it as well so I have no worries when it comes to bear meat in the house. Hell I might just shoot two anyway next year, a spring and a fall beat for comparison.

I got one in spring this year in Region 8 and bought another tag I thought I would use in the fall but decided I didn't need to deal with the fat content. The spring bear was awesome meat (still have some in freezer), zero fat.
I ground a lot into hamburger, some stew meat and the shoulders were roasts. Not sure what I'm going to do with the heart and liver yet. That sausage above looks good!

I'll probably try and harvest two in spring next year.

$20 per tag.... easy to fill in the Okanagan.

Here there are no bear problems, only human problems with city folk who don't understand the concept of garbage habituated bears and why they ultimately need to be destroyed.

 

[Why not?]

We use both spring and fall bears. The fat is delicious, and renders into the finest shortening for baking you have ever used. It is so rich, that my wife uses one third of what a recipe using ordinary shortening call for in pies, pastries, cookies, and fruit loaves. I use it for making bread, and cinnamon rolls.

The 'secret', of course, is to take the same care with a harvested bear as you would with any other game you planned to eat. Keep as clean as possible, cool as possible, and do it quickly. A deer or moose wouldn't taste very good either, if someone waited for half a day to get all the pictures taken, and then decided to "try some."

Ted

 

[1ABNDT]

Ask them to write Trudope about the issue, since there's no need for anyone to own a firearm.