B.C. grizzly and black bear deaths stable despite hunting licence surge

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      The number of bears killed by hunters in B.C. has remained relatively stable for two decades now, according to government statistics supplied to the Straight.

      That’s despite the province having steadily issued more licences for B.C. residents to hunt grizzly and black bears. As previously reported, between 2005-06 and 2013-14, permits to “harvest” those animals increased 58 and 52 percent, respectively.

      But with just three exceptions, the number of grizzlies killed from 1993 to 2012 remained between 200 and 350 per year, at an average annual rate of 262. For black bears, the average number harvested per year in B.C. was 3,965.

      During the 20-year period for which the Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations supplied data, hunters in B.C. killed a total of 5,241 grizzlies and 79,299 black bears.

      B.C.’s annual spring bear hunts began on April 1.

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      Comments

      1 Comments

      James B

      Apr 1, 2015 at 7:44pm

      You should add that people actually do eat bear as well.
      Despite what some self-professed bear expert stated in the article in the GS last year.

      With any luck I'll be making bear tomorrow.