Province ready to lift ban on rehabilitating wildlife
Sanctuaries would be allowed to work with orphaned bear cubs, other species
The province is preparing to lift its ban on the private rehabilitation of orphaned bear cubs after public outcries over the fate of four young bears found alone or orphaned in Alberta since last spring.
It will lift a 10-year policy that saw many of the animals euthanized and others sent to zoos.
Provincial officials have been working with wildlife sanctuary operators to develop protocols in handling orphaned animals, with hopes of those facilities taking in black bears as early as this spring, said Travis Ripley, executive director of fish and wildlife policy with Alberta Environment and Parks.
Depending on the challenge posed, several other species on a banned rehabilitation list could follow, he said.
“The common goal is to have this protocol in place prior to the 2018 spring bear hunt,” he said in an email.
“In moving forward, protocols will be developed collaboratively for the additional species.”
Those other animals include elk, lynx, bobcats, pronghorns, fox, cougars, wolves, grizzlies, skunks and coyotes.
While ecstatic at the news, biologist Lisa Dahlseide, who’s worked at the Cochrane Ecological Institute that’s cared for numerous bears, also sounded caution.
“The wheels are moving, though I’m still a little skeptical at how government moves — but I’m pretty excited,” she said.
“I hope they hold to their com- mitment, because Alberta Environment won’t have to follow through with their procedure of killing bear cubs.”
She said it’s important the ban be effectively lifted by the April hunting season, when many cubs are orphaned.
Ripley agreed, saying “I’m hoping we can move that quickly.”
Attention on Alberta’s policy frowning on private wildlife care was intensified after three black bear cubs were found abandoned ina Ban ff National Park wash room last April.
Due to that policy, the bears had tobe driven to K el own a, then fl own to a wildlife refuge in Ontario.
That was followed last fall by the outcry over a Cochrane-area animal refuge’s inability to take in Russell, a young black bear with
Russell created a lot of compassion from people demanding change. But his leg has atrophied and he’s not a candidate for rehabilitation.
an injured left hind leg that was loitering in a field eating human handouts alongside Highway 22 at Springbank Road.
The ban was adopted under the notion animals that undergo rehabilitation can’t be successfully returned to the wild and that some pose a safety threat to humans. But wildlife sanctuary operators say their own experience and considerable research shows otherwise.
Ripley said those studies have played a role in the province’s policy review that will lead to the changes.
“That’s important information we’ve taken into consideration,” he said, adding experience and literature on bear rehabilitation led to the species taking priority.
“There are facilities across the U.S. and Canada taking in orphaned bear cubs, and there’s much more research on orphaned bear cubs than other species ... we’ve been aware of bears and they’ve been in the news.”
He said there are 10 wildlife sanctuaries across the province, though not all take in bears.
Meanwhile, Dahlseide said Russell the bear remains out of sight and likely hibernating.
She said it’s ironic an animal that brought so much attention to the issue almost certainly won’t benefit from the policy change.
“Russell created a lot of compassion and passion from people demanding change,” she said.
“But his leg has atrophied and he’s not a candidate for rehabilitation.”
Dahlseide said she’s pressed for coyotes to be next on the rehab list due to the large numbers of orphans.