Grizzly Bears in BC - Management through the Barrel of a Gun
Fast as a deer, with an excellent sense of smell and exceptional strength the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), has reached near mythical status in North America.
Grizzly in Sedge Grass
Two centuries ago, grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) were numerous throughout North America. They populated the western half of the continent, ranging from the northern Arctic to central Mexico in the south. Today however, the grizzly bears' future is grim due to sport and trophy hunting, road building, and habitat loss. Grizzlies have now disappeared from Mexico, most of the Lower 48 (nearly 99% gone), the Canadian prairies and parts of Southern BC.
Federally the grizzly bear is listed as a species of special concern because of its declining numbers and slow reproductive rate. Despite federal listing as a species at risk grizzly bears continue to be hunted for “sport” in British Columbia.
In British Columbia, the province with the largest grizzly population in Canada threats to the grizzly bear include loss of habitat, hunting and poaching, degraded fish streams and road construction. In 2001, the new provincial Liberal government reinstated the grizzly trophy hunt despite overwhelming public opposition to the trophy hunt of this reclusive animal. Indefensible from a biological standpoint, the hunt also makes no economic sense as grizzly viewing generates double the revenue of grizzly hunting. As one of the slowest reproducing mammals in North America, it appears unlikely that the grizzly will be able to survive both habitat loss and trophy hunting.
