The Alberta government has authorized the use of dogs for hunting black bears to aid in caribou conservation efforts, a decision met with skepticism from wildlife biologists. This regulation change, initially implemented last year by Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen, faced criticism from wildlife advocates and support from hunters. The recent reinstatement of this practice has sparked controversy, with public calls for the hunt to be revoked and a campaign in favor of it.
According to this year’s Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations, the use of dogs for hunting black bears aims to support predator management in areas of concern for caribou recovery. However, former provincial caribou manager Dave Hervieux, who served the government for over four decades, refutes the idea that hunting black bears with dogs contributes to caribou conservation.
Hervieux highlighted that among the 23 wildlife management units allowing hunting black bears with dogs, 10 lack caribou range, and two have minimal caribou presence historically. He emphasized that these areas are not suitable for caribou and, therefore, hunting black bears with dogs in such regions does not aid caribou conservation efforts.
While the government enforces wolf population control to safeguard caribou populations, Hervieux emphasized that targeting black bears for conservation purposes is not supported by scientific evidence. The impact of black bears on caribou calves is minimal, and the probability of hunters targeting bears preying on caribou is extremely low.
University of Alberta ecology professor Mark Boyce echoed Hervieux’s concerns, emphasizing that using dogs to hunt black bears for caribou protection lacks scientific backing. He expressed worries about potential conflicts with grizzly bears and emphasized the need for habitat conservation for caribou recovery.
The provincial Department of Forestry and Parks stated that the decision to allow dog-assisted bear hunting is based on wildlife data and scientific information. However, Hervieux and Boyce, along with other biologists, claim they were not consulted regarding this change.
The province considers caribou conservation a secondary benefit of allowing dog-assisted bear hunting, emphasizing broader hunting opportunities for Albertans. They argue that reducing black bear populations may help alleviate predation pressure on caribou, supporting caribou recovery efforts. Last year, hunters harvested 2,431 black bears in Alberta.
The practice of hunting black bears with dogs is permitted in British Columbia, Ontario, and several U.S. states. In Alberta, it is allowed during September and October to avoid overlapping with caribou calving periods in the spring. The use of dogs is restricted to areas where bait hunting for black bears is prohibited and extends to hunting cougars and game birds in the province.