Bears of Bute

Arguments For Bear Hunting

admin — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Bear hunting is a sport that many people enjoy. However, there are many people who are against it because they feel that it is unethical to kill animals. They believe that all life is precious and that includes the life of an animal. Proponents of bear hunting argue that it is a necessary for controlling the bear population. They further argue that the number of people who are killed each year as the result of a bear attack would be even higher without bear hunting.

People who are for bear hunting do not agree that is unethical. They believe that since bears have been hunted for food since the beginning of time, there is nothing inherently wrong with bear hunting. There are also many people today who eat bear meat. Those who are for bear hunting also believe that since people in prehistoric times hunted bears for fur, there is nothing wrong with doing the same thing today.

Bear hunting will most likely always remain controversial. Some believe that it is a fun sport that is beneficial, while others believe that bear hunting is an unnecessary evil. The people who are for bear hunting and those who are against bear hunting both have great arguments.

Save the Spirit Bears

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The spirit bears, otherwise known as Kermode bears, are actually American Black Bears of a different color. Spirit or ghost bears have long held a prominent place in Native American cultures. They can be found habituating British Columbia’s northern and central costal areas. Spirit bears currently face many of the same threats that wildlife faces worldwide due to human activities.

Kermode bears are a subspecies of the American Black Bear, with a light colored coat, resulting from recessive gene also carried or passed on by black bears. Since spirit bears have dark colored eyes and pigmented skin visible around their muzzles and paws, they are not considered albinos. There is evidence that the creamy coat lends an advantage over the dark coat of their brethren during day time fishing sessions, which may explain the relatively high density of Kermode bears in specific habitats. Furthermore, the revered status of the spirit bear lent protection from human hunters.

In Native American cultures, the bears seasonal death (hibernation) in late fall and winter and rebirth (awakening and bringing new life) in spring symbolized the seasons of the earth. These fierce powerful creatures have evoked much symbolism varying greatly throughout Native American cultures.

Logging and climate change threaten the bears similarly most wildlife species who call relatively untouched, ecologically sensitive habitats home. The Enbridge Northern Gateway project introduces a new potential threat to these unique bears. This project entails petroleum pipelines to the British Columbian coast near the Princess Royal and Gribell Islands.

Bear Hunting in British Columbia

admin — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

If you are looking for a good opportunity for a prosperous hunting trip, consider bear hunting in British Columbia. Ideally situated in prime black and grizzly bear territory, British Columbia offers beautiful scenery to enjoy along side the thrill of the hunt.

Excellent opportunities for quality family time abound when bear hunting in British Columbia, the landscape is prime in just about any season of the year to take advantage. This allows for planned or impromptu mini-vacations where you will have a successful hunt.

You can find guided hunts as well as going it on your own and find a bear of your choosing either way. The fact of bears being omnivores makes it great for bear hunting in British Columbia, you can find the vegetation and the animal life that both black and grizzly eat. You can research the type of bear you want to hunt before going so you can gather information on their foraging and hunting habits.

Guided tours are a great idea for first time bear hunters, often these guided hunts cater to the family and support family hunting activities with the education and location that will bring the best bear hunting in British Columbia.

Whatever the method of hunting you use, British Columbia is the place to be for bear hunting fun.

Take a Bear Sighting Trip

www.bearsofbute.com — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

You’ve spent your fare share of time scouring the woods of British Columbia for fresh scat and the prints of a Grizzly but if you haven’t had much luck yet, it’s time you head out to one of the nation’s best parks for spotting bears. No more weekends watching Yogi or Smokey on Direct TV satellite – get out there and see the real thing!
Yellowstone National Park – Careful…bears here are aggressive since tourists relentlessly feed them despite the warnings. You’re likely to see a black bear and some cubs and if you’re lucky and in the right place at the right time, maybe even a grizzly.
Yosemite National Park – There’s a lot of scenery here so if you don’t see a bear you won’t be disappointed but there are tons of black bears roaming through these tall woods. Take bear spray if you go on an inland hike, though.
Glacier National Park – There are only a few months a year when this park is fully accessible and summer’s got em’ all. Get out there and use the buddy system – the park is dense and full of very wild animals.

A Highly Publicized Decrease in Grizzly Population

www.bearsofbute.com — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 21:09:55 +0000

It may not seem like professional basketball has much to do with Bute and its Bears, especially a team from Memphis, Tennessee, but without the Bears that roam Bute and the surrounding area of British Columbia the Memphis Grizzlies might play under an entirely different banner.The name Grizzlies actually pays homage to the BC native bear breed, christening the Vancouver franchise when the National Basketball Association expanded to Canada prior to the 1995 season. The Vancouver Grizzlies joined the Toronto Raptors as the first NBA teams to call the Great White North home since Toronto Huskies, also named after a local product of the animal kingdom, back in 1946-47. Originally , the Grizzlies were set to be called the Vancouver Mounties, though due to objections for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, there Grizzlies moniker was chosen as a suitable replacement.Unfortunately, the Grizzly basketball team was unable to sustain life in the Western Canadian climate that real Grizzly bears find so hospitable. Attendance began to dwindle following the NBL Lockout in 1998-1999, and the team’s owners began to lose money. After a proposed deal to sell the team to a St. Louis businessman, which would’ve likely relocated the team to the Midwest, Vancouver fans saw signs of hope when Michael Hensley purchased the team in 2000, promising to make every attempt to keep the team north of the border. Gate draws continued to drop, however, until it was already a foregone conclusion the Grizzlies were on their way out, at which point no string of sellouts could salvage their stay. The took up residence in Memphis in 2001, with far less fellow bears to keep them comfort.

Sleep with the bears at Bear Bay Lodge

admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 20:59:02 +0000

The Bear Bay Fishing Lodge is an outdoorsman’s paradise, one that sounds almost too good to be true. The beautiful site is located right at the mouth of Bute Inlet’s Bear River on British Columbia’s West Coast, and is optimal real estate for those looking to come face to face with the river’s eponymous species. In the fall, you can get as close as you dare (safety allowing) to grizzlies and black bears in their natural environmentthat’s the season when they flock to the streams to “welcome in” the spawning salmon.With such competition, the fall isn’t the best for prospective fishers, but the lodge is still a great destination any time of the year. During the early spring, the Bute Inlet’s many streams provide an amazing angling experience. There are even helicopters ready to ferry you to the perfect location. When you get bored, you can go hiking on the ridge tops surrounding the bay.Bears aren’t the only wildlife you’ll see in the mountains and valleys. With some peaks rising 10,000 feet out of the sea, there’s plenty of room for other species, and you’re likely to glimpse deer and mountain goats along with eagles and ravens. The lodge itself also offers several creature comforts, including a front porch looking out on several playful porpoises, seals, and otters. When its time to relax, there’s plenty of places to sit and read, and of course freshly-caught seafood to cap off a full day.Prospective visitors are invited to contact the Lodge via e-mail for more information on their rates or transportation options (most people arrive via helicopter or floatplane, but guests can also bring their own boats if they call ahead). If you’re a bear fan, it could be the most important e-mail you ever send.

A Bit About Bute And Why Bears Like It

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:49:57 +0000

The Bute Inlet is situated on the British Columbia coast, expanding parallel to Knight and Toba inlets. Running an estimated 80 km inland from its head at Stuart Island, it provides the Homathko and Southgate rivers with mouths to the larger body of water. The Bute Inlet enjoys a feel of privacy and isolation afforded to it by Stuart Island’s shielding location. The island nearly hides the inlet’s opening into the much larger Georgia Strait completely, rendering it easily overlook by passer-bys in plain sight. From bank to bank, the Bute Inlet averages a 4 km width, wider at its onset and slowly narrowing as you move further inland. Mountains shoot up around the inlet, offering a picturesque backdrop as boats float through.Bute plays host to a selection of First Nations, or aboriginal Canadian people of neither Inuit nor Metis descent. As a result much of the surrounding land consists of established Indian preservations, on which national and provincial governing powers are limited to only municipal regulations. The Homalco, Klahoose, Kwiakah and We Wai Kai First Nations all call the area’s banks home. This has helped contribute to the area’s untainted and well-preserved ecological conditions, as the native cultures traditionally promote sustainable living and low-impact environmental practices. The sparsely settled, underdeveloped and unpolluted landscape makes it a pristine natural habitat for bears and their natural prey. The mountain sides are overgrown with thick forests full of tall Douglas-Firs and Red Cedar trees, providing both seclusion and nourishing berries. The glacier fed rivers and streams stemming off from the main inlet are rich in fish population, especially salmon, a favorite of both grizzly and black bears. For three months in the summer, as the salmon make their yearly return from the ocean to fresh water, bears can be seen gathering together on the Bute banks, feasting on the endless supply of salmon in their months before hibernation season. Bute offers a safe haven for large bear populations, rich in food and shelter and almost untouched by man-made obstruction.

Grizzly Population

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:49:23 +0000

Grizzly bears are currently thriving in healthy numbers in the province of British Columbia. BC is home to half of Canada’s entire grizzly population and a quarter of all grizzly bears worldwide. Conservative estimates put the total number of grizzlies living in British Columbia somewhere between 10,000 and 13,000 bears. Current grizzly bear habitats in the Kootenay Mountains, Northern Rockies and Northwestern British Columbia are among the most densely concentrated and healthiest grizzly bear populations in the world. Though the grizzly is by no means classified as “threatened or endangered,” the species is listed as “vulnerable or sensitive” due to their intolerance of nearby human proximity and their reluctance to adapt to human heavy surroundings.Populations in other parts of North America, including Alberta and Montana, have not endured with as much success as the British Columbian grizzlies, often due to clashes with humans. Increased development in once viable habitats, combined with continuous hunting over the course of centuries has led to decrease in grizzly populations in these once fertile breeding grounds. Though the natural climate throughout much of Western Canada and the Northwestern United States is conducive to the grizzly bears lifestyle, grizzly bears and humans mutual intolerance has restricted large grizzly populations to the seclusion of deep woods, often on mountainous terrain, where only hikers and extreme outdoor enthusiasts are in danger of disturbing the feared beast. As a result, British Columbia, the most mountainous region in Canada has made a suitable home for the grizzly, still less developed than its American mountain filled counterparts, which are more thoroughly populated by people and double as heavy traffic tourist destinations. It’s estimated that over 80 of the original grizzly habitat in British Columbia is either stably occupied or increasing in population, with only 8 permanently lost to human endeavors. The remaining land area is currently influx with habitat recovery programs underway to restore more grizzly stomping ground.

Black Bear Population

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:48:51 +0000

The black bear is actually British Columbia’s most thoroughly distributed large mammal, with only the provinces large urban cores out of its reach. While tough enough to occupy the province’s roughest mountain terrain, the black bear can also make its home on the outer coast and islands of British Columbia. Only 5 of the black bears natural habitat in BC has been permanently forsaken for human development. While a larger percentage of the land supports significant human settlements, black bears, unlike their grizzly counterparts, are actually tolerant of moderate human interaction and unthreatened by close proximity to man. Despite their adaptability, major highways and transportation networks have fragmented and displaced some large black bear constituencies, which has affected population growth patterns in certain areas.Overall, however, black bear population in British Columbia is at an all time high, somewhere in between a total estimated count of 120,000 to 160,000 bears. Historical figures suggest that increased human development has done little to hurt or slow the increase of the black bear’s natural population figures. Over a century ago, in 1870, when the land much more sparsely settled by humans, there were only believed to around 80,000 black bears in the area. Despite large numbers of big game hunters and trappers across North America who set out to kill or capture the bears, the species is astonishingly resilient, boasting large total numbers not only in British Columbia, but all of Canada and much of the Northwest United States, with spotted populations throughout the continental U.S. In fact, black bears are the most common large carnivore in the entire continent. BC remains one of the black bear’s favorite homes, hosting more black bears than any other individual Canadian province, and 30 of the country’s total black bear population. Approximately 15 of all North American black bears can be found within the borders of British Columbia.

What to do When Bears Attack

www.bearsofbute.com — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:48:06 +0000

Though bear attacks are very uncommon, it is still better for hikers and woodsmen to stay alert and on guard at all times. To understand how to defend yourself, you must first be aware of exactly why the bear is attacking you. Though at the point of a bear attack you are probably terrified and not thinking clearly, taking a moment to get your wits about you and analyze the situation could be the few seconds that end up saving your life. First you will want to identify the type of bear attacking you, as black bears and grizzlies attack for very different reasons.While grizzly attacks are a lot more common, this is generally due to the clumsiness of humans than to any sort of predatory nature. Grizzlies attack only when they feel threatened, and while you may not feel you are a threat to the massive grizzly bear, just walking within 10-20 feet could trigger its defensive instincts. Proximity to the grizzly’s cubs may also play a part in its decision to attack. Feeling that its smaller offspring are threatened could be just as alarming, if not more, heightening their aggressiveness. Because grizzlies only attack when on the defensive, it is recommended that when confronted, you should play dead in hopes the large bear will walk away. Even the strongest men are no match for a grizzly in combat, so your best bet is to minimize your perceived threat level as much as possible.Black bears, on the other hand, can sometimes view humans a meat source. As a result, playing dead will only serve you up on a silver platter. When attacked by a black bear, channel your inner Rocky Balboa and fight until the last bell, despite your lack of size. Grab weapons, rocks, anything within reach to help you to put up a formidable fight. Gouge eyes, fight dirty, do whatever is necessary to survive. Sometimes, even if you can’t defeat it in hand to hand combat, the black bear decides it would rather move on to easier prey than exert the energy necessary to take down a resilient meal.