Human behaviour has led to the destruction of yet another bear.

First: I want to thank WildWise Yukon for educating the public, and for promoting and implementing ways to reduce human wildlife conflicts that help keep both bears and humans safe.

Environment Yukon spokeswoman Melissa Madden says “it was deemed a serious threat to public safety,” and she said killing the bear by Yukon conservation officers was “tragic.” Tragic indeed! She went on to say: “We’ve had a number of problems with unsecured chicken coops this summer.” Also, “People can prevent such an outcome by keeping bear attractants out of their yards.”

When are people going to be held accountable for creating the very problems they complain about?

I can’t accept that the Department of Environment finds it tragic to kill bears. After all, bears – bears that don’t bother anyone – are killed legally prior to or just after hibernation every year. Every spokesperson for the department knows this.

Strange they don’t find this type of destruction “tragic.” These deaths are preventable, too. Bears are considered “resources” to feed the human desire to kill, and this is morally wrong.

It’s a bit hypocritical to say one feels bad for killing a so-called nuisance animals, when that killing seems to be a first resort, not a last resort.

So now we have another bear killed this season. Many beavers have also been destroyed this past summer, though ethical solutions and devices exist to protect culverts without harming beavers. Just another batch of body parts for the annual trappers’ association and government fur sale?

Wildlife need and deserve protection, too.

Mike Grieco

Whitehorse