Grizzly's killing on reserve provokes outrage
Provincial official upholds resident's treaty rights
Gwendolyn Richards
Calgary Herald
Friday, August 01, 2008
An adult male grizzly has been shot and killed on the Morley reserve, prompting outcry from conservationists trying to preserve the dwindling bear population.
The six-year-old grizzly, known as bear No. 102, was a wary animal who travelled widely around Banff and Canmore but kept away from humans.
"If he saw people, he would run," said Alberta Parks heritage protection specialist Melanie Percy. "As far as we knew, he never got into any trouble at all."
Early Saturday, around 4 a.m., the bear was shot and killed on the Morley reserve after the animal's movements apparently caused a dog to bark.
Under native treaty rights, the man who shot the bear had every legal right to do so, Percy said.
However, Jim Pissot of Defenders of Wildlife Canada said because the grizzly was inedible -- after being tranquillized only months earlier -- the shooting was technically a violation of those treaty rights.
The bear was tranquillized in May when wildlife officials outfitted him with a collar to track his movements.
Tranquillized bears get an ear tag warning people not to eat them within one year.
Part of Pissot's work includes the Wild Smart program, which has been working to find ways for humans to coexist with wildlife.
"What's unfortunate is this bear had learned to coexist and somebody at the other end of the gun made a less-than-ideal judgment," Pissot said.
After bear No. 102 was shot Saturday, he travelled another kilometre. He was still alive Sunday afternoon when the man who shot the animal, along with friends, tracked the bear on foot and destroyed him. When a fish and wildlife officer arrived at the home of the man who shot the bear, the officer found the animal's hide, said Percy.
With only 300 to 350 grizzlies left in the province, Defenders of Wildlife are working to preserve the population. Pissot said they have not yet approached First Nations leaders and hunters to discuss bear conservation.
Chiniki First Nation Chief Bruce Labelle could not be reached for comment.
Provincial official upholds resident's treaty rights
Gwendolyn Richards
Calgary Herald
Friday, August 01, 2008
An adult male grizzly has been shot and killed on the Morley reserve, prompting outcry from conservationists trying to preserve the dwindling bear population.
The six-year-old grizzly, known as bear No. 102, was a wary animal who travelled widely around Banff and Canmore but kept away from humans.
"If he saw people, he would run," said Alberta Parks heritage protection specialist Melanie Percy. "As far as we knew, he never got into any trouble at all."
Early Saturday, around 4 a.m., the bear was shot and killed on the Morley reserve after the animal's movements apparently caused a dog to bark.
Under native treaty rights, the man who shot the bear had every legal right to do so, Percy said.
However, Jim Pissot of Defenders of Wildlife Canada said because the grizzly was inedible -- after being tranquillized only months earlier -- the shooting was technically a violation of those treaty rights.
The bear was tranquillized in May when wildlife officials outfitted him with a collar to track his movements.
Tranquillized bears get an ear tag warning people not to eat them within one year.
Part of Pissot's work includes the Wild Smart program, which has been working to find ways for humans to coexist with wildlife.
"What's unfortunate is this bear had learned to coexist and somebody at the other end of the gun made a less-than-ideal judgment," Pissot said.
After bear No. 102 was shot Saturday, he travelled another kilometre. He was still alive Sunday afternoon when the man who shot the animal, along with friends, tracked the bear on foot and destroyed him. When a fish and wildlife officer arrived at the home of the man who shot the bear, the officer found the animal's hide, said Percy.
With only 300 to 350 grizzlies left in the province, Defenders of Wildlife are working to preserve the population. Pissot said they have not yet approached First Nations leaders and hunters to discuss bear conservation.
Chiniki First Nation Chief Bruce Labelle could not be reached for comment.





















































