The Government of Alberta recently amended its Wildlife Act to allow wildlife managers the option of working with resident licensed hunters to manage individual high-risk grizzly bears. This small change to the legislation shows that the government wants to collaborate with hunters and save taxpayer dollars. The legislation change is responsive to rural residents living near grizzly bears because it shows that public safety IS NOT less important than grizzly bears. 

READ:  HOWL’s Letter to the Editor of the The Guardian, “Conservationists Want Wise Use of Resources, Not Annihilation”

The Alberta Minister in charge, his staff and resident hunters are coming under intense and unsubstantiated attacks by animal rights activists. There are negative campaigns being launched against the minister and his staff to apply pressure to have them reverse this decision. It is vital to counter the negative messages bombarding the Alberta government by showing them there are people who support the government’s decision to use hunters as a grizzly bear management tool. 

Hunters need to support these efforts by sending a positive message to the Honorable Minister Mr. Todd Loewen. Tell the Alberta government that grizzly bears need to be managed, hunters are the appropriate tool for this, and utilizing them reduces the burden on the ministry.