Dear Editor,
The spring bear hunt in the Yukon will be launched April 15, right after bears emerge from their dens, and it lasts until June 21.
Adult males usually emerge first, next are juveniles of both sexes, then females with yearlings and solitary females. Mother bears with newborn cubs are usually last to leave the dens. Having lost up to 40 per cent of their body weight, foraging for food is now top priority, often at roadsides where they become an easy target.
While argued by the dominant culture that the spring bear hunt serves as a management tool to control bear populations, it is seen by many as unethical and is criticized for its potential to orphan bear cubs which cannot survive on their own. In spring, bears are thin and in poor condition. Therefore, hunting them for their meat does not make sense.
Here is a more detailed look at the arguments surrounding the spring bear hunt:
· Orphaning of cubs: A primary concern is the potential for hunters to kill female bears, especially during the spring when they are emerging from hibernation with cubs. Cubs are often not in sight when the mother approaches a bait site or forages. In spite of mothers with cubs being protected in the Yukon, it is legal to shoot females and female grizzly bears get shot because they are often hard to differentiate from male bears. This leads to orphaned cubs that will be left to die. Cubs and yearlings cannot survive without their mothers.
· Adult male bears are needed: They are considered to be an important means to put young male bears into their place. Experienced old male bears are vital “to manage” young male grizzly behaviour.
· Conservation concerns: Grizzly bears are listed as a threatened species in many areas, and their populations have significantly declined over the years due to habitat loss, poaching and other factors. Trophy hunting can further endanger their population and disrupt their delicate ecological balance.
· Ethical considerations: Trophy hunting often involves killing animals solely for the purpose of obtaining a trophy, such as the bear’s head, hide or claws. This approach is seen as morally objectionable by many people who believe that animals should be treated with respect and not hunted for mere sport or for displaying trophies.
· Ecological importance: Grizzly bears play a crucial role in their ecosystems as keystone species. Their presence helps maintain biodiversity by regulating prey populations and influencing vegetation. Removing a significant number of grizzly bears from an ecosystem can disrupt the entire food chain and have negative cascading effects on other species and the overall ecosystem health.
· Non-consumptive use value: Grizzly bears have intrinsic value and are appreciated by many people for their beauty, ecological role and contribution to the natural heritage. Many argue that these animals should be protected and cherished rather than hunted for personal gain.
· Climate change and human development: Even without hunting, the survival of the grizzly bear population is challenged by many factors. Food resources for grizzly bears are dramatically cut back through habitat fragmentation, human development and overfishing which results in poor salmon runs. The biggest threats however are climate change and massive forest fires which result in food shortages and push bears out of their innate habitats.
The question we urgently need to ask: Can we justify the spring bear hunt?
We do not know the status of Yukon’s grizzly bear populations. The government still quotes an estimate which was conducted in the 1980s.
Grizzly bears have one of the slowest reproduction rates of North American mammals, starting between ages three to eight years, and producing cubs maybe every three to five years. Yet it is legal in the Yukon to shoot females, adults or adolescents.
We think, the spring bear hunt is unethical and outdated.
Sincerely,
Grizzly Bear Protection Team
Annette Belke, President
Tagish
