Hunting methods drawing criticism

Expansion of bear baiting, pursuit dogs in province `unethical,' opponent says

The provincial expansion of hunters' use of bear food baiting and off-leash cougar pursuit dogs in protected areas has come into conservationists' crosshairs.

The practices are already allowed in many parts of Alberta, but their expansion this fall into protected areas such as wildland provincial parks as well as provincial parks and recreation areas where hunting is already permitted should be reversed, said Devon Earl, the Alberta Wilderness Association's (AWA) conservation specialist.

They breach the spirit of preserving landscapes, wildlife and habitat, while bear baiting anywhere in Alberta dangerously undermines efforts to discourage feeding wildlife, she said.

“(Baiting) can contribute to habituation with human food, which is already a big problem. It contradicts the safety measures in place,” Earl said of the technique that's been legal in Alberta for three decades. “We also find it to be unethical and contradicts the principles of fair chase — it doesn't seem like a sporting way to hunt.”

The measures that took effect Sept. 15 also expand the use of dogs to pursue cougars, another practice the AWA believes should be banned provincewide.

There's a risk those dogs could be diverted to chase and harm other wildlife, she said.

“Some of them might go off-scent and attack an animal that's not supposed to be hunted. We don't know if they'll always be within sight of their owners,” said Earl.

The AWA, she said, was notified of the changes in early September by Alberta Environment and Parks, she said, but a wider consultation doesn't appear to have taken place.

“We're appreciative they did discuss it with us but the public should have a say in what happens in these protected areas,” said Earl.

The expanded hunting allowances also come at a time when uncertainty remains over the province's black bear and cougar populations, said Earl.

According to estimates by the province, Alberta is home to about 2,100 cougars and 40,000 black bears.