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Let Bears Live Free: Jack Boudreau's Perspective

By 250 News

by Jack Boudreau

Part 1 of a IV Part series
This is the first of a four part series submitted by Jack Boudreau, outdoorsman and local author .  

Boudreau has written  several books which focus on outdoor life in the region including; Grizzly Bear Mountain, Crazy Man's Creek, Mountains, Campfires and Memories, Wilderness Dreams and Wild and Free.  

Last month, he attended the Charlie Russell “Living with Bears” presentation at UNBC. 

Boudreau offers a different view of living with bears.

Part One: The Bear Facts

It didn’t take long for me to realize why these experiments took place in Russia, because had they occurred in Canada, it is certain that charges would been laid. During the presentation Mr Russell mentioned that he had trouble with the Russian authorities. Should I be surprised?

I also must make it clear that I have no bone to pick with Charlie Russell; I just strongly disagree with his methods and the image of grizzlies that may be perceived by the viewers. In fact, Charlie’s father, Andy Russell, was my favourite author. His books about the wilderness were based on years of experience and his knowledge shone through loud and clear.

What I find most troubling about this entire business of holding bears in captivity, is that it always seems to depend on the importance of the people involved. Defenders will cite the family tree of the individuals and totally ignore the issues. I have had enough of the hero worship. I really do not care if Santa Claus is involved; if it is morally and legally wrong everyone should renounce it. The laws are on the books, they just need to be enforced in an equitable manner.

An acquaintance of mine has spent his entire life working with wildlife and offers a simple test to determine whether bears are held in captivity for entertainment purposes or for their own survival. If raised with their survival in mind, a hands-off approach would be used with little or no bear-human contact. If used for entertainment purposes the hands-on approach would be used in order to get the close-up pictures and human-bear interactions. When I questioned him about the end results of feeding bears he cited countless tragedies that have resulted from these actions. The evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable. This gentleman also offered his assistance if I make this subject the focus of my next book and I intend to give it serious consideration.

One need only read The Mackenzie Experience by Andrew Mackay to learn what happens when we habituate bears. This study was conducted over a three-year period at the Mackenzie Landfill Garbage Site between 1992-95. By the time the study ended 63 of the 67 grizzlies involved were reported dead. The old saying “a fed bear is a dead bear” usually comes true.

Mr. Russell’s slideshow would have me believe that grizzly cubs were kept in a fenced area, yet they were not being fed. Since grizzlies need a large area in order to get sufficient sustenance, this allows only one possibility – manna from heaven.

I also took exception to the video insert, which in my opinion was a clear case of abuse of a yearling grizzly.

One of my contacts has just informed me that trappers are allowed to hunt grizzlies for their furs in the Kamchatka region of Russia; apparently this leaves some orphaned bear cubs. Mr. Russell stated that there is a lot of poaching going on in that area. If that is true, what is the sense of protecting those bears for a year or two and then sending them out on their own? What they call “reintroduced to the wild”, I call abandoned. Since the mother grizzlies are shot for their furs, it is obvious that this takes place in April or May before the cubs are old enough to learn the ways of the wild. Therefore they are abandoned to the wild with the hated scent of man all over them. Mr. Russell stated that the wild boar grizzlies kill some of these tamed bears. Again, should we be surprised?

If I were a bear hunter in the Kamchatka area I would pay part of the costs of this enterprise in order to have someone tame bear cubs for me, because once they have lost their natural fear of man, they make such easy targets for the trappers and poachers. It is even possible that the hunters could lead the bears to their homes before shooting them so they wouldn’t have to carry the hides. In a sense, it seems that the long-term result of this venture is to supply the Russian fur market with domesticated bears. 


Tomorrow,  in Part 2, Boudreau takes a closer look at the dangers of habituating bears. 


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