Governments must do more to protect B.C. grizzlies, ban trophy hunt: report
VANCOUVER — A loss of habitat, decline in food sources and an annual, government-sanctioned trophy hunt is threatening the long-term survival of British Columbia’s grizzly bear population, says a new report.
The 88-page document, commissioned by the recently established Grizzly Bear Foundation, has put forward 19 recommendations aimed at protecting grizzlies in B.C. The proposals range from improving laws around controlling bear attractants to looking at expanding bear-watching tourism.
“Basically, what we found is that British Columbians on the whole really seem to care about the grizzly bears,” Michael Audain, chair of the organization, said in an interview.
“But we fear for the future. We fear that there are dark days ahead for the grizzly bear in British Columbia if we don’t really take some action.”