HUNTING FOR TOURISM

Posted on 02/29/2016 | About Ontario, Canada

Natural Resources and Forestry Minister Bill Mauro has announced the spring black bear hunt. The bear hunt is a pilot project started in 2014, in response to the dangers of black bears coming closer to communities.  This decision is expected to benefit people in northern and central Ontario, but it has also been described as a way to help tourism.

Mauro announced that licensed hunters can hunt black bears from May 1 to June 15.“Bear-related public concerns are very real for people living in northern and central Ontario and we are committed to assisting those communities to deal with this problem,” he said in a statement.“Science shows one of the biggest influences on the number of human-bear encounters is the availability of natural food sources.”It is estimated there are 105,000 black bears in Ontario.Mauro’s website identifies the benefits to the hunt:•    Reduce the likelihood of aggressive bear activity resulting in physical harm or death.•    Help protect crops and livestock.•    Reduce impact on bees (between 2000 - 2008, black bears reportedly destroyed over 4,000 beehives/colonies).•    Boost Northern Ontario’s moose population by reducing the number of moose calves killed by bears.•    Increase tourist activity in Northern Ontario.It will still be illegal to hunt cubs and mother bears with cubs with penalties of $25,000 and up to one year in jail.Licensed hunters will only be allowed to kill one bear each year and there are restrictions on how close bait can be placed to public and private buildings, roads and recreational trails.