This year's Manitoba spring bear "hunt" begins April 29. Bait stations loaded with food will be set up to attract bears, who are in a state of semi-starvation post hibernation, so that "hunters" can shoot them from stands in trees above. It is almost impossible to determine the gender of the bears and inevitably mothers are killed, leaving behind orphaned cubs who will slowly die of starvation. If there is the slightest chance that even a few bear cubs could become orphaned and left to die a slow and painful death, it makes the hunt inhumane and cruel. In early spring, bear cubs cannot accompany their mothers when they go to forage for food and are left hidden in brush or trees. Bait stations also accustom the animals to unnatural food sources leading to the possibility of future human/wildlife conflict situations. It's also be demonstrated in Ontario that a spring bear hunt has had no effect on reducing instances of  human/bear conflict. Instead, more effective ways of minimizing "problem" bears is through education and discouraging human behaviours (attractants and feeding) that bring bears into conflict with communities. Let's make Manitoba a progressive province that takes a leadership role in conservation, and end this unfair slaughter of our defenceless animals. Please write to Manitoba's Minister of Sustainable Development, Sarah Guillemard, as well as your own MLA, and them know that you oppose this hunt.  Minister Guillemard can be reached at mincc@leg.gov.mb.ca.