Les humains responsables de la mort des Grizzlis...

[Animal 0]

Humans causing more grizzly deaths in Alberta

SHANNON MONTGOMERY
The Canadian Press
February 3, 2009

CALGARY -- A person may not be much of a match for a grizzly one on one, but
over all the bear population in Alberta is being battered by humans at an
increasing rate, a coalition of environmentalists warns.
Action Grizzly Bear says upward of 5 per cent of the province's grizzly bears
were probably killed by humans last year - the highest level of mortality since
the government suspended hunting the animals in 2006.
The official tally for 2008 was 19 human-caused deaths. The causes ranged from
vehicle collisions and hunters mistaking grizzlies for brown bears to
self-defence and nuisance kills.
But considering that many deaths are unreported and relocated bears are more
likely to die, the number is probably upward of 30, Carl Morrison of Action
Grizzly Bear said yesterday. That's significant when the bear population is
estimated to be less than 500 in the entire province.
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"It's pretty substantial. Humans are responsible for over 90 per cent of grizzly
bear mortalities in the province," Mr. Morrison said. "We are the leading cause
of decline for grizzly bear numbers ... and things need to happen so that's not
the case."Mr. Morrison said the latest figures show the Alberta government's plan to stem
the decline of the bears isn't working.
More money needs to be spent on teaching hunters and hikers how to recognize and
avoid bears, and on showing those who use their territory to keep food and
garbage properly sealed, he suggested.
"There needs to be a general increase of awareness of co-existing with grizzly
bears, and that's certainly achievable, it's just going to take some time and
effort, and some resources."
Roads also need to be restricted or moved altogether to keep humans out of the
land the bears rely on to survive, he said.
The government isn't sure why the number of human-caused grizzly deaths is
higher this year, but will look carefully at what can be done to stop the trend,
said Darcy Whiteside, spokesman for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.
"Any time that a grizzly bear is removed from the landscape, it's a concern," he
said. "So every year we're concerned with the numbers and looking to reduce
them."
The government spent $1.7-million on protecting the bears last year and has a
number of community-based initiatives to help people understand how to co-exist
with the animals, Mr. Whiteside said. A program is also being started that will
try to keep bears out of places where humans live by placing road kill near the
animals' dens.
The government money also helped pay for a DNA-based count that has been under
way for four years. It is trying to pin down exactly how many bears currently
live in the province.
Biologists have found about 230 grizzlies in the areas they've already looked
at, but are still waiting for the numbers on one region, Mr. Whiteside said.
There will be no move to list the species as threatened until that figure comes
in, he said.
When that finally happens it could be too little, too late, said Mr. Morrison,
who pointed out a government group suggested the bears be listed as threatened
in 2002 when their numbers dipped below 1,000.
"The estimate is fewer than 500, including national parks. So it's one thing to
say we need to wait, but we also need to take action to make sure we aren't
continuing to lose bears while these decisions are being made."
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