The Alberta government has approved the use of dogs for black bear hunting to aid in caribou conservation efforts. Despite this move, wildlife biologists remain skeptical. The decision, initially made last year under Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen, received mixed reactions from wildlife advocates and hunters. The controversy continues this year, with public calls for the hunt to be revoked and a campaign showing support for it.
According to the Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations for this year, the use of dogs for hunting black bears is aimed at supporting predator management in areas where caribou recovery is a concern. However, former caribou manager Dave Hervieux disputes the effectiveness of this approach, stating that there is no scientific basis to suggest that hunting black bears with dogs will benefit caribou conservation efforts.
Hervieux points out that out of the 23 wildlife management units allowing hunting black bears with dogs, 10 do not have any caribou range, and two have minimal caribou presence. He emphasizes that historical data indicates these areas never had caribou. Hervieux stresses that the focus of black bear hunting with dogs is largely on non-caribou habitats, raising doubts about its impact on caribou conservation.
While wolf culls have been effective in stabilizing caribou populations, Hervieux argues that increasing bear hunting will not yield similar benefits. He highlights the minimal threat posed by black bears to caribou calves in Alberta, emphasizing the need for habitat conservation and recovery to ensure long-term caribou survival.
University of Alberta ecology professor Mark Boyce supports Hervieux’s stance, stating that hunting black bears with dogs is not a viable strategy for protecting caribou. Boyce’s research indicates that black bear predation on caribou in Alberta is minimal. He also raises concerns about potential conflicts with grizzly bears in areas where the hunting practice is permitted.
The provincial Department of Forestry and Parks justifies the use of dogs for black bear hunting as providing sustainable hunting opportunities for Albertans. They view caribou conservation as a secondary benefit of this approach, despite conflicting opinions from biologists. The province emphasizes the importance of managing predator populations to support caribou recovery, citing last year’s harvest of 2,431 black bears in Alberta.
Hunting black bears with dogs is allowed during September and October in Alberta, with restrictions to prevent overlapping with caribou calving periods. The practice is limited to areas where bait hunting is prohibited for black bears. In addition to black bears, dogs are also used for hunting cougars and game birds in the province.