Grizzly bear decline alarms conservationists in Canada

Demand for halt to hunting after decline in salmon stocks is blamed for bears starving to death

By Tracy McVeigh First it was the giant panda, then the polar bear, now it seems that the grizzly bear is the latest species to face impending disaster. A furious row has erupted in Canada with conservationists desperately lobbying the government to suspend the annual bear-hunting season following reports of a sudden drop in the numbers of wild bears spotted on salmon streams and key coastal areas where they would normally be feeding. The government has promised to order a count of bears, but not until after this year’s autumn trophy hunts have taken place. It has enraged ecology groups which say that a dearth of salmon stocks may be responsible for many bears starving in their dens during hibernation. The female grizzlies have their cubs during winter after gorging themselves in September on the fish fats that sustain them through the following months. “I’ve never seen bears hungry in the fall before, but last year they were starving,” said British Columbian wildlife guide and photographer Doug Neasloss. “I noticed in the spring there weren’t as many bears coming out, but I felt it was premature to jump to conclusions.” But now, he said, “there just aren’t any bears. It’s scary.” It was the same story, he said, from other guides over 16 rivers where once they would have been encountering dozens of grizzly bears. “There has been a huge drop in numbers. I’ve never experienced anything this bad.” Reports from stream walkers, who monitor salmon streams across the vast territories, have been consistent, according to the conservation group Pacific Wild – no bears, and more worryingly, no bear cubs. “There are just no bears out there, I’m hearing that from every side now,” said Ian McAllister from Pacific Wild. He said that because a few grizzlies have been wandering close to centres of human habitation people thought there were plenty of bears around. “In fact it’s the shortage of food that’s driving them into town. They’re starving,” he explained. …

Grizzly bear decline alarms conservationists in Canada via Apocadocs