2015 got off to a great start for grizzly bears with the Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) Chiefs passing a resolution calling for protection and recovery of grizzlies, known as kiʔlawnaʔ in the nsyilxcen language. Interestingly kiʔlawna is the root word for the town of Kelowna.
First Nations and scientists have long recognised that grizzly bears are barometers of wilderness and the health of ecosystems. They require large tracts of wild habitat with rich, diverse and seasonal foods like berries, roots and salmon. When grizzly bears are present, we know that these same healthy wild landscapes also provide our society clean water, robust forests and diverse wildlife. Coast to Cascades grizzly bears are an early warning system indicating how well we are stewarding natural systems for future generations.
Photo From: Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee and the Wildlife Management Institute Hunter Education Video
When talking about grizzlies we often find that the topic of guns comes up. While there is no legal hunting in the five threatened populations focused on by COASTtoCASCADES, the greatest loss of bears is through them being shot. These shootings are either due to illegal poaching or instances of real or perceived human-bear conflict. So how to reduce the likelihood of human-bear conflict when in bear country? Well, we can adopt habits that will keep us safe, such as:
Photo: Jeremy Williams
On November 3rd 2014, the Council of the District of Lillooet voted in favour of supporting grizzly bear recovery, highlighting in the resolution that "grizzly bears and the wild places they inhabit are an iconic and integral part of the Lillooet region's natural heritage and image".
Johnny Mikes, Field Coordinator for COASTtoCASCADES Grizzly Bear Initiative details the 5 local threatened grizzly bear populations. Photo Credit: Brad Kasselman
COAST to CASCADES hired a new Outreach Coordinator for the campaign in August of this year. Claire Ruddy is based in Whistler and helped organise the hugely successful 'Night with Grizzlies' event we hosted in April, which (rather helpfully) meant she was able to hit the ground running. With summer markets and events in full swing we booked into events all along the Sea-to-Sky from Squamish to Lillooet.
Photo by Jeremy Wiliams
Fueled by the US National Park Service the US Federal government has decided to take the significant first step to restore grizzly bears to the Washington Cascades. Cascades grizzlies are critically endangered with only a handful of animals in the entire Cascades range. Thousands of grizzlies once roamed these rugged mountains and valleys.