Hunting black bears with hounds is once again permitted in Alberta. The decision, initiated last year, sparked mixed reactions from wildlife advocates and hunters. This practice has been reinstated as part of Alberta’s wildlife management strategy, aimed at safeguarding recovering caribou populations from predators.
According to the Ministry of Forestry and Parks, the regulatory change was based on scientific research, feedback from stakeholders, and regulations in other regions. Similar to British Columbia and Ontario, Alberta now allows the use of dogs for black bear hunting in certain wildlife management units during September and October. These units are predominantly located in Alberta’s northern boreal forests and the Rocky Mountain foothills, vital habitats for threatened caribou species.
Despite the province’s assertion that the changes align with responsible wildlife management, concerns persist among conservationists. Ruiping Luo from the Alberta Wilderness Association highlights worries about off-leash dogs disturbing wildlife, potentially causing harm to non-target species.
While acknowledging these concerns, the province maintains that there is no evidence linking the use of hunting dogs to adverse impacts on wildlife populations. Mark Hall of Wild Origins Canada supports the expansion of black bear hunting with hounds, citing collaborative efforts among experts and scientists to ensure the practice aids in caribou recovery without compromising overall wildlife management.
Research indicates that black bear hunting has positively impacted wildlife populations in other areas, boosting moose calf survival rates. Hall emphasizes that the notion of dogs terrorizing bears is unfounded, as black bears naturally coexist with predators and often perceive hunting dogs as a nuisance rather than a threat.
In the previous year, hunters in Alberta harvested a total of 2,431 black bears.