Bears - IUCN

TABLE 3. KILL FIGURES FOR BLACK BEAR IN CANADA
British Columbia
Alberta
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Northwest Territories
2, 000-2, 500
400-500
447-438/2*
500
800
335/12*
Quebec
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Newfoundland
Yukon Territory
1,000†
1242/3*
156/9*
58/8*
120
† Guess; number not supplied.
* Indicates number of years represented.
necessary to report the shooting of a bear. In 1957, a special open season
during which dogs could be used was established between April 1 and June 1.
In 1961, the dog season was changed to May, September and October, and a
regular open season was established between October 1 and December 10. In
1963, the dog season was from September 1 to November 14, while the regular
open season was September 1 to December 10. In 1965, special regulations
were brought in with reference to the use of the bow and arrow. In 1969, legislation
went into effect requiring that all bear kills be reported within 48 hours
to the nearest deer registration station. This was largely to facilitate research
study of the population. In the same year there was a special season introduced
for the hunting of Black Bears using primitive muzzle-loading weapons.
Thus we see, over a period of 14 years, the complete change in attitude toward
the Black Bear from one that regarded the species as a pest animal to be
destroyed under state sponsorship, to one of high regard for its sporting
qualities. The regulations are now designed to provide a variety of different
specialized recreational opportunities. Similar changes in attitude are to be
seen in the evolution of regulations in a number of other states.
In the State of Louisiana there has been a re-stocking programme with bears
obtained from Minnesota. Between 1964 and 1967, 156 bears were transplanted.
It is interesting to note that several of the adjacent states report that some of
the newly planted bears wandered across into their regions.
In the State of Maine, claims for damage incurred by farmers from bear depredations
are still paid and amount to approximately $7, 600 per annum. Few
other states pay for damage.
It is well known that the proportion of black to brown color phases in the population
changes with geographic distribution (Cowan 1938). It is also known
that two unusual color phases occur. In certain parts of coastal British Columbia,
white individuals, that are really dilute brown with brown eyes, occur
infrequently in an otherwise black population. This color phase is known from
Princess Royal Island and adjacent islands off the central coast of British
Columbia and from scattered areas in the Skeena River Valley. Recently,
legislation has been introduced to prohibit killing of these white individuals.
They were never common, and they have been becoming progressively more
scarce.
In parts of coastal Alaska, a steel blue color phase occurs and was the original
source of the description of a unique race believed to be characterized by this
color— U. a. emmonsi. Here again the bulk of the population is black, but the
blue individuals are so sought after that special legislation for their protection
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