Editor:
What were the Conservation Officers to do?
They made a decision to kill the bears versus relocation knowing the consequences of their actions would be judged in the court of public opinion.
They did not have time on their side unless they chose to do nothing.
Had the “do nothing approach” been used and there was an attack on a person they would have been convicted in the above court!
Enter Zimmerman, Laffey, and Mikuse, loyal members or imposters of the Bear Whisperers Society.
The press elected to print their letters in opposition to the killing of these bears using the words “slaughtered,” “sickened,” “innocent mother,” and “shooter mentality.”
Have they ever tried to haze a bear?
Have they ever made themselves available to “haze” bears?
Have they ever submitted their strategies to the Conservation Service?
Hazing a single bear is one thing, but a mama and three cubs?
Trapping and sedating pose similar problems.
Interestingly the press elected to publish letters from Kamloops residents.
Apparently no offence was taken to this “bear management approach” by the residents in the area surrounding Wildwood including Williams Lake.
Bear spray is used as a defense mechanism within close proximity.
Bear spray is just another version of Oleo Capsicum Spray (used by Police and Peace Officers) but coming in larger containers.
It is very wind sensitive thus the user becomes contaminated, and its use as part of the hazing process goes to show the ridiculousness of that presentation.
The hazers would have to walk through the residue thus suffering more than the bear(s) but that would be their choice.
Mel McIntosh
Abbotsford, B.C.