On April 17, 2024, the Nova Scotia government announced that there won’t be a spring bear hunt this year in Nova Scotia.  MANY THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED!

Stop the Proposed Spring Bear Hunt in Nova Scotia (SUCCESS)

As a concerned citizen of Nova Scotia, I am deeply troubled by the proposal for a spring bear hunt.

The proposal suggests that only male bears will be killed; it is currently illegal to kill a female with cubs. However,  there is no guarantee that nursing females would not be killed when feeding at bait sites. The sex may be indistinguishable to the hunter, potentially leaving behind cubs to die without a mother to care for them.  It is not currently legal for wildlife rehabilitation facilities to raise orphaned bear cubs; the deaths of these orphaned cubs will further decrease the bear population.

Bear populations in Nova Scotia are already under stress due to habitat loss and climate change. Adding hunting pressure during springtime could further destabilize these populations and disrupt natural ecosystems (source: Canadian Wildlife Federation). The proposed bear hunt not only threatens our local wildlife but also undermines our responsibilities as stewards of nature. We must prioritize sustainable practices over short-term gains or recreational activities that can cause irreversible harm to our ecosystem.

There is very little time to act.  The government has a deadline of February 24th to respond to their survey https://novascotia.ca/spring-bear-hunt-engagement/

Please complete their survey and sign this petition to 'maintain a stable and healthy bear population'.  Also, letters may be written to your MLA and Tory Rushton, Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, mindnr@novascotia.ca