Degradation of habitat from forestry, oil and gas development and human settlement is the greatest risk to B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 grizzly bear population, Auditor-General Carole Bellringer says.

While Forests Minister Doug Donaldson has concentrated on ending the grizzly bear trophy hunt and enacting new regulations to enforce it, of the ministry香蕉视频直播檚 management of the bear population has uncovered more serious problems. Donaldson has announced that the B.C. government will put an end to trophy hunting of grizzlies after this fall香蕉视频直播檚 hunting season.

The forests ministry estimates that about 250 of B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 15,000 grizzly bears are taken by hunters each year, in a limited-entry lottery hunt open to resident and non-resident hunters. The audit found that from 2006 to 2015, there were 389 bears killed as a result of human-bear conflicts, not related to hunting.

The conflicts are a result of increasing calls about grizzlies to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service. The service revised its procedures to evaluate conflict and not automatically assume the bear should be destroyed, for example if it has entered someone香蕉视频直播檚 yard to eat fruit left on trees.

香蕉视频直播淎n increase in resource roads 香蕉视频直播� 600,000 kms existing and more added every year 香蕉视频直播� also leads to more human-bear conflict, and ultimately grizzly bear deaths,香蕉视频直播� Bellringer said.

The audit found that grizzly bear populations are increasing in some areas of the province, with the trophy hunt each year adjusted for regional populations. Mike Morris, MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie and a long-time hunter and trapper, said in a that grizzly numbers are reaching problem levels in some places.

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香蕉视频直播淔ewer people are hunting bears today than in years gone by, leading to increasing populations,香蕉视频直播� Morris said. 香蕉视频直播淏ears have a devastating effect on ungulate populations and I think have contributed to the drastic decrease in moose, caribou and deer populations. Hunting is an effective wildlife management tool.香蕉视频直播�

The province is continuing a on grizzly hunt regulations until Nov. 2.

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