Cubs Spared -says Min. of Environment
Prince George, B.C. – The Ministry of the Environment says contrary to the initial police reports about the sow bear attack at Forests for the World, the cubs were not euthanized.
Yesterday afternoon, a 46 year old man was sent to hospital with minor injuries following a black bear attack. The victim was out walking his dog in the Forests for the World area around 4:15 when the attack happened.
Conservation officers searched the area, located the sow bear and she was euthanized. Police had initially advised that one cub had also been euthanized, but the Ministry of the Environment says that’s not so. Not one, but two cubs were tranquilized and transferred to the Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter near Smithers, which looks after injured or orphaned wildlife.
Comments
Now, this story doesn’t say his dog was loose, but they make the point in the other story to tether your dogs – which no one does up there. In spite of the big sign saying leash your dog, and another big board explaining this is bear country, and what to do, people let Lucky run loose.
If you want to drive the message home, instead of feeling sorry for this guy and his injuries, charge him under the wild life act. Then, all the self entitled dog owners can take note that if Lucky takes off after a bear, it can cost you a lot of cash, and there won’t be any tears if the bear attacks you.
And I know you can’t teach stupid, but a dog does not improve your chances of survival in a bear attack, it increases your chances of being attacked. Bears see a dog the same way they see a coyote, or a wolf, and they will respond violently. And Lucky will come running right back at you.
Dogs hunting game
78 A person commits an offence if the person causes or allows a dog to hunt or pursue
(a) wildlife or an endangered species or threatened species, or
(b) game, except in accordance with the regulations.
“charge him under the wild life act”
For what? What exactly did he do to break any laws?
Taken from the BC hunting regulations……..
Dogs
4. The use of dogs is permitted in the hunting of all game, but dogs
must be on a leash when used to hunt deer, elk, moose, mountain
sheep, mountain goat and caribou. Unleashed dogs may be used to
hunt small game, lynx, bobcat, grizzly bear, black bear or cougar.
Those are hunting regulations – he wasn’t hunting. He was trail running with an unleashed dog which possibly went after a bear, which violates the wildlife act S. 78 (a).
If he was hunting in FFTW that’s a whole other problem because it’s a park.
Ski51, “possibly went after a bear”.
Maybe stop speculating before you make accusations then?
He was hunting? Was he carrying a gun or was he a bow hunter? Now the story is really getting interesting! Why would they keep all that information from the public?
A sad outcome, nevertheless! They could have tranquilized all three and taken them to an unpopulated area far away from here. I thought they were more compassionate with the wildlife entrusted to them…
“If you want to drive the message home, instead of feeling sorry for this guy and his injuries, charge him under the wild life act.”
Well said! I for one have stopped a long time ago feeling sorry for people who intentionally ignore signs of all sorts (stop signs, speed limit signs, school zones signs, Leave your phone alone…and so forth) and then get into trouble. Too bad the mother bear had to die just doing what one expects her to do, namely protecting her young!
What law did he break that he could be charged for?
You know I hear lots about the bear is just doing what comes naturally and is just protecting it’s young. I don’t disagree, but you have to remember that a person out walking his dog in nature is just doing what is considered a natural act by most people as well.
I will say this. If 0ut inthe bush and a bear charges me whether I’m with or without my dog and I have a weapon I will protect myself. That is a very natural act!
I don’t like to see any animal be killed needlessly, but you also don’t know the history of that animal. There’s many residential areas around that part of town on Cranbrook Hill, university heights, Heritage etc.. and bears do roam a large territory. That bear could easily have a lack of fear because of all the people who needlessly leave their garbage out all night. I for one do live up there and can say that is a very common issue and one that I’m personally sick of seeing. A fed bear is going end up having a lack of fear and is going to end up being a dead bear.
A little fyi as well. Relocation doesn’t have a great success rate.
My basic point is that a bear protecting its young is natural. A person walking a pet in nature is natural. A bear attacking someone close to residential areas whether it has cubs or not is a high risk that may have many contributing factors besides the cubs. Euthanizing this bear is NOT the worse possible outcome.
I generally agree with you, but what is your position of a person walking an unrestrained pet. That’s my issue. If the dog was on a leash, it likely would have not encountered the bear. The bear’s usually stay hidden in the bush, not standing around on the trail. And just more food for thought, there’s no guarantee when the unleashed dog comes running back, that the bear goes after it’s owner. It could go after almost anyone in the vicinity. So the dog owner is not only putting his life at risk, but pretty much anyone near him as well.
“The bear’s usually stay hidden in the bush, not standing around on the trail”
Really? You seriously believe that? You have got to be kidding? You need to get out more if that’s the case.
Was this persons dog unleashed?
Maybe read the details of the story, he was running on the trail and came upon the bear in the willows beside the trail. The dog wasn’t chasing the bear – keep up the good work keyboard cowboy
I’ve ridden the trails at Otway and Pidherny about a 100 times in the last few years, never seen a bear on the trail. Seen them off in the bush, but never on the actual trail. Then again, mountain bikes make a bit of noise so maybe they left just before I got there.
The dog wasn’t on a leash because I believe that he was running the trails. Regardless, if the dog needs to be leashed and the signs state that, then the dog needs to be on a leash.
Because you believe?
The guy is lucky that he wasn’t torn to bits. A sow with cubs is a force to stay as far away from as possible.
If I remember right, Statistically 100% of the black bear deaths recorded in BC since 1900 or so have been male bears (where the sex of the bear has been known). The serious injury statistic is about the same. Im trying to find the report I read on it for the link but basically if you are seriously injured or killed it has been a male bear.
I do agree. Dogs need to be leashed where it is required and bylaw regulated.
I also know first hand the potential dangers a dog can bring to someone in the bush.
I’m just saying that many factors could be contributors to euthanizing that bear, and I’m not opposed to that decision. Yes the owner should have leashed the dog, but do we know for sure that would have made a difference in this situation?
Lots of people jump on the “poor Bear” bandwagon and don’t have all the facts and that’s not a fair assessment of what may have or have not happened.
Bears are beautiful creatures but not treated or raised properly they are extremely dangerous. That’s sometimes reason alone not to take a risk with one in an area close to residents.
Baws, that’s just way too much common sense for people to handle, good on you.
CO’s have a lot of different factors to consider before they make their decisions,
that bear huggers wll never understand.
Finally someone that has some common sense. I was getting tired of seeing people say “poor bear” as well.
The man who was attacked posted the story from his perspective to the Prince George Trail Runners Facebook page if anyone is interested.
Simple, if the sign says in the parks, dogs need to be leashed. If they are not leased, the city bylaw officers need to enforce it. Not just put up a sign.
Shoot Lucky with a tranqualizer gun. he goes to SPCA, if he has tag, than the owner can pick up Lucky for a fine. Or lucky goes to the farm.
Heartless aren’t I.
So much love for the Bear, all sort of Rules for Walker and Hikers to put the fear into them and telling them how to walk and behave on City Trails and Woods. I say we have a very healthy Bear Population , we may have to many Bears!
This trail runner was directly responsable for this bears death. He came suddenly and quietly upon this bear and the bear did what comes naturally and gets blown away for no reason.
I hike a lot and have seen many bears and have never had an issue. I also see many runners and bikers quietly, quickly moving along the trails well surprise what do you think will happen. When in the Bush be responsible.
I also carry bear spray but the closest I have gotten to use it is against a dog and a moose.
Thumbs down, must be the entitled runners.
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