Hunting black bears in Alberta using hounds has been reinstated by the province, a decision that was initially met with opposition from wildlife advocates and approval from hunters. This practice has been reintroduced as part of Alberta’s wildlife management strategy, primarily aimed at safeguarding recovering caribou populations from predators.
The Ministry of Forestry and Parks stated that the regulatory change was based on the best available scientific data, input from stakeholders, and regulations in place in other jurisdictions. The use of hounds for black bear hunting is allowed in British Columbia, Ontario, and several U.S. states.
In Alberta, this hunting method is permitted during September and October in specific wildlife management units located in the province’s northern boreal forests and the Rocky Mountain foothills. These areas are considered essential habitats for threatened caribou.
Despite the government’s assertion that the changes align with responsible wildlife management practices, conservation specialist Ruiping Luo from the Alberta Wilderness Association remains skeptical. Concerns were raised about off-leash dogs potentially disrupting wildlife and causing harm.
Apart from hunting black bears, dogs can also be used for hunting cougars and game birds in Alberta, as well as assisting in retrieving big game post-hunt under certain conditions. Luo emphasized that even well-trained hounds may possess instincts that could lead them to chase non-target or vulnerable species.
The province has been monitoring grizzly bear mortality, with six incidents reported between 2013 and 2022 where grizzlies were mistakenly killed as black bears. The government asserted that there is no evidence indicating adverse impacts on grizzly bears or other wildlife populations from using dogs for black bear hunting.
Advocates like Mark Hall from Wild Origins Canada view the inclusion of hounds in black bear hunting as a positive step towards supporting caribou recovery. Hall cited research suggesting that black bear hunting has positively influenced moose calf survival rates in Minnesota.
Addressing ethical concerns, Hall debunked the notion that bears are excessively terrorized or exhausted by hunting dogs. He highlighted that black bears are accustomed to dealing with natural predators and often perceive hunting dogs as an annoyance rather than a genuine threat.
In the previous year, hunters in Alberta harvested 2,431 black bears, reflecting the ongoing activity in the region.
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