The Alberta government has approved the use of dogs in black bear hunting to aid caribou conservation efforts, a decision that has sparked debate among wildlife experts. The regulation change, introduced last year by Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen, faced criticism from wildlife advocates and garnered support from hunters. This year, the decision to reinstate the practice has stirred further controversy, with calls from the public to rescind the hunt and campaigns both for and against it.
The Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations states that allowing hunters to use dogs for black bear hunting aims to support predator management in areas of concern for caribou recovery. However, former caribou manager Dave Hervieux disputes the effectiveness of this approach, citing a lack of scientific evidence to link hunting black bears with dogs to caribou conservation.
Hervieux highlights that out of the 23 wildlife management units where hunting black bears with dogs is permitted, 10 have no caribou range, and two have minimal caribou presence. He emphasizes that these areas historically lacked suitable conditions for caribou and questions the rationale for allowing this hunting practice in such locations.
While the government has implemented wolf culls to protect caribou populations, Hervieux argues that targeting black bears with dogs is not as beneficial. He points out that black bears have minimal impact on caribou calves in Alberta and questions the necessity of hunting bears to support caribou conservation efforts.
Mark Boyce, an ecology professor at the University of Alberta, echoes Hervieux’s concerns regarding the use of dogs in black bear hunting. Boyce emphasizes the limited impact of black bear predation on caribou and raises issues about potential conflicts with grizzly bears in areas where the hunting practice is permitted.
The provincial government defends its decision, stating that allowing dog-assisted black bear hunting offers sustainable hunting opportunities and can indirectly benefit caribou conservation. They emphasize that reducing black bear populations in specific areas may help reduce predation pressure on caribou, ultimately supporting caribou recovery efforts.
Last year, hunters harvested 2,431 black bears in Alberta. The government asserts that actively managing predation on caribou and introducing additional tools for black bear harvest will complement existing predator management strategies and support caribou recovery.
Dog-assisted black bear hunting is permitted in Alberta during September and October, aligning with caribou calving periods to prevent overlap. The practice is restricted to areas where baiting for black bear hunting is prohibited. Additionally, dogs can also be used for hunting cougars and game birds in the province.
Overall, the decision to allow the use of dogs in black bear hunting for caribou conservation purposes continues to be a topic of debate among experts and the public in Alberta.