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www.OntarioBlackBears.com |
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Why I Developed This Website |
Petition
to Stop Bans on Hunting
When Ontario's Spring Bear hunt was canceled
in Ontario, I was tremendously upset. Not because I am a fan
of Black Bear hunting. I was upset because I am an environmentalist
and I do not like it when people lie about wildlife or nature
for personal gain. The reason that Black Bear hunting was targeted
was because Black Bears are photogenic and Black Bear hunting
was an easy target because they are disorganized. There are no
underpopulation problems with Black Bear populations in Ontario,
quite the opposite, and hunting black bears over baits in the
spring is very humane. The tremendous resources that were wasted
on a non-issue could have been used to do real environmental
work.
Why was Ontario's Spring Black Bear Hunt
targeted as a campaign:
- Black Bears, especially cubs, are are
among the most photogenic animals in the world. This is called
the "cuteness" factor in wildlife protection where
"cute" animals receive attention even if not needed,
while the animals species that need attention, but are not "cute",
are neglected
- Most people have no understanding of Black
Bears and their actual status in Ontario so it is easy to mislead
gullible sponsors, media, government and other uninformed people
about Ontario's Black Bears.
- There are legitimate problems with other
bears populations around the world, which can be used to mislead
gullible sponsors, media, government and most uninformed people
about Ontario's Black Bears.
- Black Bear hunters and outfitters are
disorganized and not strategically oriented
- Black Bear Hunters are not a significant
voting population in Ontario.
- Most people no longer hunt so it is easy
to mislead gullible sponsors, media, government and most uninformed
people about the hunting of Black Bear.
- There are a very small minority of un-ethical
hunters, who should not be able to hunt or own guns, who can
be used to discredit the reputation of the broad hunting public.
Something like mortorcyclists being tainted by the reputations
of biker gangs.
For radical opportunists (people who support
or create causes based on potential personal gain) Black Bears
are made to order.
I don't like radical opportunists. They
waste time, they waste resources, and they give true environmentalists
a bad name. There is too much important environmental work to
do and not enough resources to do it. Radical opportunists give
the impression they are friends of nature, but they either don't
understand, or don't care about what wildlife really need, HABITAT!
Our changes to habitat are not devastating
Ontario's Black Bears. Ontario's Black Bears are thriving under
our interference. Our forestry practices in Ontario creates great
Black Bear habitat. Hunting Black Bears actually helps to balance
some of the overpopulation created by our interference in their
environment, which helps the populations of animals that Black
Bears prey on.
I have been around wildlife and nature
my whole life. Life and death are part of nature. What is neither
natural nore healthy for wildlife are our changes to the environment.
As long as hunting takes into consideration population sustainability
it has no real affect. Our radical changes to the environment
and eradication of habitat are what devastates wildlife populations,
Some people oppose hunting because they
feel it is violent. Nature is violent. A robin hopping across
a lawn seems like a peaceful scene, but the bugs and worms are
being torn apart and eaten alive. We must learn to accept nature
the way it is if we are going to understand how we can responsibly
ensure our affects on nature remain within nature's ability to
balance without being catostrophic to the other species we share
this planet with. We must learn to accept that we are part of
nature, and everything we do affects everything around us for
many generations into the future.
Al Errington
Errington's Wilderness Island Resort
www.WildernessIsland.com
Comment on this page on
NOTO's Bulletin Board
PDF
version of this article
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