09/01/2026
Halting habitat destruction in British Columbia is essential for protecting native bear populations.
When forests and natural areas are cut down or disrupted, bears lose their homes and natural food sources.
Loss of Food: Bears rely on native berries, nuts, and plants in healthy forests to build fat for winter hibernation.Displacement: Logging, fires, and expanding towns force bears out of their traditional territories.Destruction of Dens: Cutting down old-growth trees destroys vital winter bear dens, as highlighted in reports on
Wildlife policies need to change: we can’t keep on killing black bears
By Gosia Bryja and Ellie Lamb
Our province has been besieged by wildfires. The devastation is destroying wildlife habitats, while rapid urban development has already altered the landscape across the Lower Mainland. Countless animals have been displaced from their homes and deprived of food sources.
Amidst this crisis, black bears find themselves at the mercy of the BC Conservation Officer Service (BC COS)—mercy that is in short supply. On average each year, the COS kills 500 black bears because they have been deemed a threat to public safety, or, in some cases, were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. This year, in August alone, 151 bears were shot dead by the COS. This is the highest number since the COS’s predator statistics started to be reported in 2011.
Conservation officers repeatedly state that they “find it heartbreaking to kill bears.” Yet, this rhetoric is at odds with the decision-making process.
The COS adheres to policies and procedures developed by the former Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. Although the decision-making process is claimed to be guided by scientific data, no substantial changes to prioritize animal welfare have been made in decades.
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