Do you want to see less wildlife killed in British Columbia communities? Send this letter to have your voice heard! Tell Premier Eby and your local elected officials that a different approach is needed when it comes to managing wildlife who come into or near communities.
Wildlife, such as bears, belong in B.C. and we, as residents, need to learn how to live together better. Coexistence is complex, and the government needs to mandate more proactive measures when mitigating encounters between wildlife and people. Pacific Wild believes that non-lethal solutions (relocation, rehabilitation, securing attractants, hazing) should be prioritised over killing wildlife whenever possible.
One of the most effective ways of initiating change is by engaging in the democratic process: contact elected representatives and government officials to highlight issues you feel strongly about and suggest changes you want to see implemented.
In 2023, 603 black bears were killed by conservation officers, the highest number on record in the last ten years. This needs to change.
Write a letter in your own words about issues you see in wildlife management and what changes you’d like to see, or scroll down to send a pre-written letter provided below.
Our key suggestions on changes that can promote peaceful coexistence
Suggestions for the provincial government:
- Legislative changes within the B.C. Wildlife Act that prioritises increased protective measures for wildlife and their habitats, holding the public, municipalities and government responsible for their actions toward our wild neighbours.
- Performing an audit of the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS) to recommend improvements. Audits are management tools that identify what works well in addition to what implementations can be put in place to make an operation run even better. For example, policy shifts, review of staffing infrastructure, training and requirements, in addition to assessing the need for increased capacity could go a long way to reduce the overall number of wildlife deaths in communities.
- Creating third-party public oversight for any entity with the authority to make wildlife management decisions; currently this is the BCCOS. The BCCOS is a policing body and should be held to the same standards of accountability as other policing entities in the province. Implementing the use of body cameras for officers on duty is an additional way to provide oversight. Body cameras are a tool that can be used to support decisions COs have made in the field as well as provide better public transparency.
- Enacting a policy that all cubs found in or near communities should be assessed by a qualified expert or veterinarian to determine their health, well-being and candidacy for rehabilitation.
- Ensuring there is adequate capacity to enforce monetary fines by BCCOS surrounding attractant securement in an effort to proactively avoid food conditioning of wildlife. A vast number of British Columbians care about wildlife and do their part to protect it. Monetary fines are a way to gain compliance and awareness toward unsecured attractants with citizens that may not understand or care how their actions are impacting wildlife.
- Providing more accessible wildlife education to the public by funding coexistence educators and experts. Not every sighting of wildlife is cause for concern. Helping residents to have a better understanding of wildlife will reduce calls to the BCCOS. Hiring community bear experts during the pre- and post-hibernation seasons to liaise with concerned residents regarding situations that arise can also alleviate the necessity for the COs to respond to calls.
Who to Contact:
Premier of British Columbia, David Eby – premier@gov.bc.ca
Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, George Heyman – ENV.minister@gov.bc.ca
Chief Conservation Officer Cam Schley – Cameron.Schley@gov.bc.ca
Office of the Auditor of British Columbia – bcauditor@bcauditor.com
Wildlife Act Review – wildlifeactreview@gov.bc.ca
Green Party Leader, – MLA for Cowichan Valley, Sonia Furstenau – sonia.furstenau.mla@leg.bc.ca
Suggestions for your local municipality:
- Mandating municipalities to implement bylaws surrounding attractant securement in an effort to proactively avoid food conditioning or habituation of wildlife. A vast number of British Columbians care about wildlife and do their part to protect it. Monetary fines are a way to gain compliance and awareness toward unsecured attractants with citizens that may not understand or care how their actions are impacting wildlife.
- Providing more accessible wildlife education to the public. Not every sighting of wildlife is cause for concern. Helping residents to have a better understanding of wildlife will reduce the frequency in unnecessary calls to the BCCOS.
- Ask your councillors to support motions that call for province-wide changes. (See above)
Who to Contact:
Your local mayor and councillors
