Conflict Over Bear Snaring in Nova Scotia?

According to a recent news article, a Nova Scotia man is pushing to outlaw bear snaring in the province, citing it as ‘barbaric’.

What the retired school teacher and bird hunter has failed to recognize, however, is that this snaring is the same exact method used by biologists across Canada and the U.S. to capture bears for research purposes.

Here’s what the local Trappers Association had to say:

Ross White, vice-president of the Trappers’ Association of Nova Scotia, says bear snaring is considered humane and effective.

Snares are comprised of a steel cable that loops around the leg holding the bear until the trapper returns. Only certified trappers can get a permit to snare a bear. They are required by law to check the traps every 24 hours, he said.

The trapper usually then uses a high-powered rifle to shoot the snared bear, said Mr. White, who lives in the Truro area. Bears most often get caught in the snares at night and the traps are checked first thing in the morning, he said.

“Most generally, they are not in distress very long. When you go to the snare, the bear is laying there. It is quite comfortable. It is quite relaxed,” he said.

The Natural Resources Department was contacted about the issue:

In 2008, the Natural Resources Department issued 145 bear snaring permits. Sixty-two bears were snared, according to provincial statistics. During the same period, about 2,680 bear hunting licences were issued, with 532 bears hunted and killed.

Only one bear is allowed per hunter or trapper during the bear harvesting season, which runs from the middle of September to Dec. 1.

Tony Nette, manager of wildlife resources for the Natural Resources Department, said there is no move to ban bear snaring.

Mr. Kendall’s complaint is the first he has heard in many years, he said Friday.

The local sportsmen’s association weighed in as well:

Tony Rodgers, executive director of the Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters, also said he has not heard any complaints about the practice.

“We see no problem with it,” he said.

Not only is bear snaring a valuable tradition in eastern Canada and Maine, it plays an important role in helping manage bear populations.

Nova Scotia’s black bear population has been increasing for the last 15 years, and snaring is an effective way for getting rid of nuisance bears, Mr. Nette said.

“They are hard to hunt. . . . There is a lot of conflict with agriculture,” said Mr. Nette, who oversees management of bear, moose and deer in Nova Scotia.

Natural Resources Department field staff is run ragged in the summer with complaints of bears destroying bee hives and blueberry crops, said Mr. Nette, who works in Kentville.

Hopefully one man’s problem with this bear snaring doesn’t lead to a huge animal rights campaign to take away another one of the traditional practices of local trappers.  Let’s try being reasonable.  Live and let live.

Read the full story here.