The Alberta government’s decision to allow hunters to use dogs for black bear hunting in support of caribou conservation efforts has sparked debate among wildlife experts. The regulation change, initiated last year under Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen, has drawn criticism from conservationists and endorsement from hunters. The move has stirred controversy, with calls from the public to revoke the hunting permission and a campaign backing the practice.
According to this year’s Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations, the use of dogs is aimed at managing predators in areas where caribou recovery is a concern. However, former caribou manager for the province, Dave Hervieux, disputes the claim that hunting black bears with dogs benefits caribou conservation efforts, citing a lack of scientific evidence to support the practice.
Hervieux highlights that many wildlife management units allowing bear hunting with dogs do not overlap with caribou habitats, raising doubts about the effectiveness of the measure. Meanwhile, the government’s focus on controlling wolf populations to safeguard caribou populations has shown positive results, but the impact of black bear predation on caribou is deemed minimal.
University of Alberta ecology professor Mark Boyce shares similar concerns, emphasizing the insignificant role of black bears in caribou predation. He also warns about potential risks associated with targeting grizzly bears with dogs in regions where the practice is permitted.
The provincial Department of Forestry and Parks justifies the decision by stating that the hunting regulations are based on scientific data and field observations. However, Hervieux and Boyce claim that they were not consulted about the regulatory change, raising questions about the decision-making process.
While the government sees caribou conservation as a secondary benefit of allowing dog-assisted bear hunting, it asserts that reducing black bear populations could aid in improving caribou calf survival rates. The province aims to integrate black bear hunting into its predator management strategy to support caribou recovery efforts.
Hunting black bears with dogs is limited to specific areas in Alberta during September and October to avoid disrupting caribou calving seasons. The practice is prohibited in regions where baiting is banned for black bear hunting. Additionally, dogs are also permitted for hunting cougars and game birds in the province.