The Alberta government’s decision to allow hunters to use dogs for black bear hunting in the name of caribou conservation has sparked controversy among wildlife biologists. The regulation change, initially made last year by Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen, has faced criticism from wildlife advocates while gaining support from hunters. This year’s reinstatement of the practice has led to public calls for the hunt to be revoked and a campaign in favor of it.
The Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations justifies the move as a means to support predator management in areas of concern for caribou recovery. However, former provincial caribou manager Dave Hervieux, with over four decades of experience, disputes the idea that hunting black bears with dogs aids caribou conservation efforts.
Hervieux points out that out of the 23 wildlife management units allowing hunting black bears with dogs, 10 lack caribou range, and two have minimal caribou presence. He emphasizes that these units historically did not support caribou and questions the effectiveness of the practice in aiding caribou conservation.
While the government’s wolf cull has shown some success in stabilizing caribou populations, Hervieux believes that targeting black bears is not a viable solution. He argues that there is limited evidence of black bears preying on caribou calves in Alberta and stresses the importance of habitat conservation for true caribou recovery.
University of Alberta ecology professor Mark Boyce echoes Hervieux’s concerns, stating that hunting black bears with dogs is not a scientifically supported approach to protect caribou. He highlights the minimal impact of black bear predation on caribou and the risks associated with targeting grizzly bears through this practice.
The government defends the use of dogs for black bear hunting as providing sustainable hunting opportunities for Albertans, with caribou conservation considered a secondary benefit. Despite this stance, critics like Hervieux and Boyce claim that biologists were not consulted about the change.
The province emphasizes the need for managing predator populations to support caribou recovery, citing the use of dogs as a tool to complement existing efforts. While the practice is permitted in September and October to avoid overlapping with caribou calving periods, concerns remain about its impact on wildlife and habitat conservation.