We had this summer some very close call of people that was lucky to be still alive, is an important reminder to people and provincial politicians in particular, (because bear management is provincial responsibility) of the benefits of a spring bear hunt.

Ontario’s spring bear hunt was a successful wildlife population manag
ement tool to assist in maintaining the abundance and density of bears at levels that minimized dangerous encounters between people and bears. 

On average, about 4,000 bears were harvested annually in the spring bear hunt, and about 70% of these were male bears.

Used in combination with a fall bear hunt, this two-pronged bear management system reduced bear densities, particularly male bears, and assisted in the control of the size of the bear population. 

This reduced aggression and cannibalism by male bears on other bears, predation on other species, such as deer fawns and moose calves, and reduced bear problems with people including reducing the probability of dangerous encounters with bears. 

So, the spring bear hunt provided benefits to people and society, and minimized costs associated with problem bears. 

The spring bear hunt was an excellent proven example of sustainable development in practice, where the benefits from a renewable natural resource were being maximized and costs to people and society minimized.

With no spring bear hunt, there are now more problem bears in the spring, summer, and early fall because there are more bears in the population. 

There are more aggressive, cannibalistic males in the woods that cause other bears to avoid them and thus, for example, seek food in other areas near people such as towns and cities. 

Berry crop shortages or failures worsen these effects. 

Female bears with cubs searching for food sources in the woods, but needing to avoid cannibalistic male bears, are forced to find food from or near people. 

Other methods to try and address problems with bears have failed. For example, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), trapping relocation of problem bears has a failure rate of 80% for adult bears of either sex.

So, proper wildlife management requires a spring hunt as it relates to reducing harmful interactions with humans, supplying benefits to people and society, but also as it relates to maintaining bear populations at levels more consistent with long-term average food supplies for the bears themselves.

The cancellation of the spring bear hunt was not only bad for people and public safety, it was also bad for the bear population. 

The hunt provided wholesome food, valuable hides, and rewarding hunting experiences for thousands of hunters each year; it generated over $40 million every year and sustained many jobs (all of which have flowed to our neighbours in Manitoba and Quebec because they continue to have spring bear hunts). 

Hunting black bears in the spring was a valuable wildlife management technique that successfully reduced bear densities, especially of adult male bears, thereby reducing cannibalism on other bears and problems for people.