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The Grizzly Bear Foundation today announced a new partnership with the Government of British Columbia that intends to address human-wildlife conflicts and well-being of grizzly and black bears.
An average of 500 black bears are killed in British Columbia every year by the BC Conservation Officer Service (BC COS), often for accessing human foods or attractants. The Fur-Bearers has long contested the policies and actions of the government agency, including numerous legal actions, monitoring and reporting on the BC COS black bear killing statistics, and calling for independent oversight (click here to read more).
According to a media release from the Grizzly Bear Foundation, the partnership will “create a joint government and independent expert panel as well as a third-party oversight review committee. Recommendations will be developed for improving current policies and procedures, including enhanced conservation officer training, orphaned cub procedures, relocation procedures, and the application of the latest care, handling, and non-lethal techniques, and more.”
Phto by Lunkenbein Photography / Getty Images
“This is a tremendous and unique opportunity to advance the well-being and stewardship of all bears in British Columbia,” says Nicholas Scapillati, Executive Director of the Grizzly Bear Foundation in the media release. “This work will take an essential step towards addressing calls from First Nations, conservation organizations and the public to address the number of bear deaths in their communities and develop support for human-bear coexistence.”
The release from the Grizzly Bear Foundation and statement from the government both identify that First Nations and Indigenous knowledge will play a major role in the partnership. It is expected that recommendations for a “new approach” will be received by the government by spring 2025.
“The Fur-Bearers is glad to see the government taking steps forward to manage long-standing issues regarding black bears and the BC COS,” says Lesley Fox, Executive Director of The Fur-Bearers. “We’re cautiously optimistic about the success of this partnership and looking forward to see how it will roll out.”
The Fur-Bearers will continue to monitor this news and provide updates and information as they become available.
