The Alberta government has reintroduced the use of dogs in black bear hunting, citing it as a measure to aid caribou conservation efforts. This decision, made under Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen, has sparked controversy among wildlife biologists despite receiving support from hunters and backlash from wildlife advocates since its initial implementation last year.
The annual Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations states that allowing hunters to use dogs for black bear hunting aims to support predator management in areas of concern for caribou recovery. However, former caribou manager Dave Hervieux, who worked with the Alberta government for over four decades, disputes the effectiveness of this method in aiding caribou conservation.
Hervieux highlights that among the wildlife management units where hunting black bears with dogs is permitted, many do not have caribou range. He emphasizes that historically, these areas likely never supported caribou populations, questioning the validity of using this hunting practice to benefit caribou conservation.
While the provincial government has successfully controlled wolf populations to protect caribou, Hervieux asserts that the impact of black bear predation on caribou in Alberta is minimal. He stresses the importance of addressing habitat loss for true caribou recovery, rather than solely relying on wolf culls or bear hunting with dogs.
University of Alberta ecology professor Mark Boyce echoes Hervieux’s concerns, emphasizing that the actual impact of black bear predation on caribou is limited. He warns of potential risks associated with using dogs to hunt grizzly bears, especially in areas where the practice is permitted and overlaps with grizzly bear habitats.
In response to criticisms from biologists, the provincial Department of Forestry and Parks emphasizes that hunting regulations are based on scientific data and observations. While the province considers caribou conservation a secondary benefit of allowing dog-assisted black bear hunting, biologists like Hervieux and Boyce claim they were not consulted on this decision.
The province defends its stance, stating that reducing black bear populations through hunting may help alleviate predation pressure on caribou, thereby aiding in caribou recovery efforts. This practice, permitted during specific months to avoid interfering with caribou calving periods, is part of broader sustainable hunting opportunities in Alberta.