Hunting black bears in Alberta using hounds is once again permitted under the province’s wildlife management strategy. This decision, which was initially made last year, received mixed reactions from wildlife advocates and hunters. The practice has been reintroduced this year to aid in protecting caribou populations from predators.
The Ministry of Forestry and Parks stated that the regulation change was based on scientific data, stakeholder feedback, and similar rules in other regions. Black bear hunting with dogs is allowed in British Columbia, Ontario, and various U.S. states. In Alberta, this practice is limited to specific wildlife management units in the northern boreal forests and the Rocky Mountain foothills, where caribou habitats are crucial.
Despite the government’s assertion that the changes align with responsible wildlife management, concerns persist among conservationists like Ruiping Luo from the Alberta Wilderness Association. Luo highlighted the potential negative impact of off-leash dogs on wildlife due to disturbances and disruptions.
The province allows the use of dogs for hunting cougars and game birds, as well as tracking big game after a legal hunt. However, Luo cautioned that even well-trained hounds could unintentionally target non-game or vulnerable species, affecting their well-being and energy reserves.
While the province reported six cases of grizzly bears mistakenly killed as black bears between 2013 and 2022, it maintains that no evidence suggests adverse effects on grizzly bears from using dogs to hunt black bears. Advocates like Mark Hall from Wild Origins Canada view the inclusion of hounds in black bear hunting positively, emphasizing collaborative efforts and scientific research supporting the practice.
Hall referred to studies indicating positive outcomes of black bear hunting on wildlife populations in other regions. He dismissed claims of undue harm to black bears by hunting dogs, noting that bears naturally coexist with predators and perceive hunting dogs as a nuisance rather than a threat.
In the previous year, hunters harvested 2,431 black bears in Alberta, underscoring the significance of hunting activities in wildlife management efforts.
