Wildlife Conservation and Hunting Groups Need to Join Forces in Mitigating Human-Grizzly Bear Conflict

A grizzly bear at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in Montana

Recently, wildlife managers in the state of Wyoming have euthanized two grizzly bears suspected of killing an elk hunting guide and injuring his client near Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. The two bears, a mother and her cub, are being analyzed in connection with the mauling death of hunting guide Mark Uptain and injuring of his client Corey Chubon of Florida on Friday in the Terrace Mountain area. Wyoming Game and Fish Department spokeswoman Rebekah Fitzgerald believes that all possible evidence shows that the two bears were involved in the attack. Authorities stated that the bears attacked the two men when they field dressed an elk they had shot on Thursday and found it dead on Friday. Teton County officials added that the bears charged them "aggressively," but did not touch the elk. The incident occurred weeks after a federal judge briefly stopped Wyoming state officials' plan for a grizzly bear hunt this month. The hunt, which is currently on hold until October 1, was allowed to be initiated last year when the Trump administration removed the bears from the protection of the Endangered Species Act. The delay has infuriated hunters like Sy Gilliland, who feels that the hunt is required to control the increasing grizzly bear population living near people. While groups that protested the hunt mourned Uptain's death, they also added that life-threatening encounters between grizzly bears and people occur in September and October. These incidents happen when hunters actively move in the areas where the bears are foraging for food before winter hibernation. According to Melissa Thomasma of Wyoming Wildlife Advocates, killing more bears will not only prevent other human-bear conflicts but also threaten the health of the grizzly population around Yellowstone.

Grizzly bear exploring its enclosure in the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center

I really believe that it is a high time for hunting groups and wildlife conservation groups to join forces together in order to ensure the survival of the grizzly bear population around Yellowstone, including mitigating human-bear conflicts. Remaining hostile to each other based on beliefs will lead to further incidences of human-bear conflict with both bears and people, including hunters, perishing in each others' hands. I think hunting groups and its members should be thoroughly educated about the current state of the grizzly population. That is, just because the population expands beyond the borders of Yellowstone and Grand Teton does not mean that bears should be hunted. It is highly essential to thoroughly examine the grizzly bear population to see if it is "self-sustaining." Only then legal protections can be removed or not, depending on the results. In addition, hunters should refrain from hunting during the months of September and October when the bears are out foraging for winter hibernation. Or at least they should carry a bear spray, instead of resorting to firearms for protection. Without any partnership between wildlife conservation and hunting groups, the future for grizzly bears in the U.S will remain unknown.

View article here