Ontario is home to a healthy and sustainable black bear population that contributes to the province’s biodiversity. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) heard increasingly from Ontario communities that they are concerned about conflicts with bears. In response, in 2014 and 2015 the ministry implemented a two-year spring bear hunting pilot program. The ministry is now proposing to extend and expand the spring black bear hunting season pilot for an additional 5 years.
It is important to note that the harvest of bear cubs and female bears accompanied by a cub would still be illegal during the proposed extended spring bear hunting pilot.
“Managing the bear population responsibly through an expanded pilot program would allow us to gather further information to assess the impacts of an early black bear season on concerns voiced by northern communities about human-bear conflicts, and to support economic growth and tourism in northern Ontario.”
– Bill Mauro
Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
The extended Pilot Program would begin in the spring of 2016 and end June 15, 2020.
Comments are welcome from resident and non resident persons. Comment period ends Nov 30, 2015
http://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-hunting-regulations-summary
