• REPORT

    The Board of Inquiry Report is available for download below.

The Report of the Board of Inquiry presents the current state of BC’s grizzly bears. It brings together the expertise, lived experience and knowledge of everyone from scientists to citizens to help us all understand more about grizzlies, how they are threatened, and what we can do to help them.

WHY ARE GRIZZLY BEARS IMPORTANT?


Few of us have seen a grizzly live in the wild. So, why do they matter to our health, culture, spirituality, and even our economic system? The Report explores how this keystone species is intertwined in our ecosystem, cultural and economic health as British Columbians.

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WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF INCREASED HUMAN-GRIZZLY CONFLICT?

Grizzlies can live for 30 years but, in areas with considerable human-bear interface, people cause the deaths of over 80% of grizzly bears. How can we prevent increased human-grizzly conflict?

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  • WHAT ARE THE SUCCESSES AND GAPS IN OUR GOVERNMENTS’ MANAGEMENT OF GRIZZLY BEARS?

    As citizens, we’ve entrusted our wildlife to the provincial government to responsibly manage. What does ‘management’ really mean, and how is it being monitored and enforced? What’s the role of local, First Nations and federal governments in grizzly management? Where are grizzlies left vulnerable?

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HOW ARE GRIZZLIES IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE?

Surely these large mammals can withstand small changes in our climate? Our Report analyzes how seemingly small changes in fish stocks, temperatures and food sources can have a significant impact on grizzly bears, one of the slowest reproducing mammals on Earth.

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ON WHAT BASIS CAN THE TROPHY HUNT OF GRIZZLIES BE JUSTIFIED?

What science is being used to set hunting allocations? Should ethical arguments play a role in how we manage wildlife? Our Report takes a look at the grizzly trophy hunt and how we think this aspect of managing the species ought to be changed.

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  • “The grizzly bears lived in our province many thousands of years before human beings arrived. Their sustainability at the top of the natural food chain is an indicator of a healthy natural environment. It is, therefore, important that we cherish these animals and safeguard them from extirpation.”

     —  Inquiry Chairman Michael Audain

  • “Bear populations may eventually just blink out over time, despite it being a vast landscape”

     — Mark Worthing, Sierra Club BC

        •   View the March 7, 2017 media release and the original Board of Inquiry announcement on our MEDIA page.

ABOUT THE BOARD OF INQUIRY

In Autumn 2016 the Grizzly Bear Foundation launched a Board of Inquiry to review the status and future of grizzly bears in British Columbia.  The three person board, whose members include Chairman Michael Audain of Vancouver, Stuart McLaughlin of West Vancouver and Suzanne Veit of Victoria sought advice and information from a broad group of BC residents and organizations regarding:

        •   Threats to British Columbia’s grizzly bear population including habitat fragmentation and loss, hunting, food source depletion, climate change,   poaching and traffic accidents

        •   Bear-human interaction, especially on how mutual protection protocols might be developed to reflect the strong and historical relationship between   humans and grizzlies in British Columbia

        •   Ways and means of enhancing the growth of the bear watching industry in a responsible manner, including the potential for increased employment opportunities

        •   The future of grizzly bears’ survival in British Columbia.

The Board of Inquiry received input from residents, government managers and scientists, ranchers, hunters, guide outfitters, bear viewing guides, conservation organizations, First Nations communities, businesses, and all other interested members of the public. Public hearings were held in Vancouver, Victoria, Cranbrook, Prince George, Prince Rupert and Fort Nelson, and written submissions were also received.