Anyone that’s watched the CBC for the past couple of nights will draw the same conclusion. The CBC has landed on the side of the anti-hunting movement and in particular on the side of those that would see the Spring Bear Hunt eliminated all- together.

Tonight (Wednesday Dec. 3/03) their lead story, hosted by reporter Mike Edgell, dealt with last night’s Disclosure programme on Bear Baiting. The commentator made it a point to use inflammatory rhetoric so as to incite a large anti-response to their question, "Should bear baiting be outlawed?"

At one point in the story, after observing a hunter shoot a bear and comment, "I think he’s dead." Reporter Mike Edgell said; "Well he’s not dead, but {she’s} dead." The point being that the hunter had just killed a female bear.

They had Vicky Burns from the Winnipeg Humane Society as well as Rob Sinclair from the International Fund for Animal Welfare on trying to push the "orphaned cubs" button. The only real pro bear-hunting position came from the former P.C. Natural Resources Minister Glenn Cummings (M.L.A. for St.Rose). Who commented that most outfitters would take exception to the way the one shown last night was conducted.

The new Minister the Honourable Stan Struthers said that he had serious questions after seeing bear baiting in practice last night and has now asked his department to not only review the entire practice of bear baiting but to also look for alternatives to the practice.

The CBC News commentator ended the segment by asking for viewers opinions. The question they wanted answered is; "Should bear baiting be outlawed?"

We need a massive response to this question as well as the whole issue of bear hunting. I have provided the names and numbers of those that need to hear the voice of Manitoba’s vast hunting community. Please don’t let your fellow hunters down.

It's important for everyone to understand and be able to communicate some of the positive messages that our research indicates will strike a chord with non-hunters. It is important to remember that each message is fact-based, or comes from expert opinion on the subject. Manitoba Conservation wildlife management professionals have become leaders in analysis of the impact of spring bear hunting on populations.

It is also important to send in letters of support for the bear hunt to our Minister of Natural Resources and the Premier .

The mailing address for the Premier is:

The Honourable Gary Doer

Office of the Premier

450 Broadway

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3C 0V8

Email to the Premier: premier@leg.gov.mb.ca

The mailing address for Minister of Conservation is:

The Honourable Stan Struthers

Minister of Conservation

450 Broadway

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3C 0V8

Email to the Minister of Conservation: mincon@leg.gov.mb.ca

The CBC

Email - talkback@cbc.ca

Long Distance toll free: 1 800 563-6397

In Winnipeg 788-3771

The Bear Hunt Key Messages

The Bear hunt helps to control bear populations.
Managed hunting is the most effective way to keep bear numbers in check. Without it, populations would grow even more and there would be more dangerous incidents of bears threatening property and people.

The State of New Jersey, after closing the bear hunt because of pressure from animal rights groups, recently brought it back to deal with out-of-control populations.

The Bear hunt is built on sound wildlife management principles
Using bait to hunt bears helps to ensure that appropriate animals are taken. This is especially true in the more heavily forested areas, where bears are hunted in Manitoba.

Studies by Manitoba experts show that most bears taken are mature males, 1 – 5 years old, these are the animals most responsible for dangerous or destructive encounters with people.

Scientific studies done in Manitoba have effectively refuted the assertion from animal rights groups that bear hunting is a significant cause of mortality for cubs.

3. The Status of bears has been elevated because of managed hunting

Before managed hunting, bears were considered vermin and were often shot on sight. Now, bears are a highly valued game animals and the managed population is healthy.

4. The Bear hunt brings economic benefits AND saves government money

Many jobs are created by the bear hunt, especially in rural and remote areas where jobs are hard to come by.

If we didn’t have the bear hunt to help keep populations under control, governments would be spending more taxpayer dollars to control dangerous bears and compensate for bear damage. Right now our Department of Conservation is cutting spending to help balance the provincial budget.

5. Manitoba is an international Leader in Bear Management

Manitoba’s professional wildlife managers have, through careful data collection and analysis, demonstrated that managed bear hunting is effective in harvesting appropriate animals and helping to keep populations in check.

In Ontario, where the spring bear hunt was cancelled because of pressure from animal rights extremists, incidents of dangerous and destructive bears have increased. By comparison, wildlife experts report that the situation remains manageable in this province.

Dick Reeves

Executive Director

Wildlife Information Network of Manitoba

Document prepared by WIN/Dec 3/03