Dear Editor:
The report in this paper, brief as it was, about the killing (by the conservation officers) of the two grizzly bears at the Kitimat River needs to be addressed.
There is a constant discussion about whether or not this species of bear is in fact endangered in the province, and if they are, in fact, endangered then why for heavens sake, are we killing them? If they are not endangered, why doesn’t the Ministry responsible say so.
In Alaska, at Fish Creek, the grizzly is revered and protected. They built a viewing stand to enhance the comfort of the tourists and delegated three officers to stand watch. This attracts 50,000 visitors each year. What is our policy? We shoot the bears as soon as they show up.
We do not employ or examine other measures, just shoot them. That is four in two years, four young bears, endangered grizzlies, shot as policy.
These were young bears, ideal candidates for relocation, but shooting them is cheaper.
Yours, Les Watmough
Thornhill, B.C.