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"Fishing Opportunity Threatened" the poster read. It
was a headline that needed to be said. The scene was the Babine
River below the weir, during the very popular sockeye fishery. Many
anglers were enjoying this chance to take home a couple of nice
sockeye for the table when Mr. Grizzly showed up.
Grizzlies and stupidity
Now grizzlies and stupidity have never been a compatible couple
and you knew there was a potential for disaster here. It all started
when some visiting anglers decided to hand feed this young sub-adult
bear. The bear was probably on his first summer alone and looking
for food in all the right places, on the river, where his mother
taught him. Now enter stupid in the human form who decided to give
some fish to the bear, they even took pictures they could show their
buddies back home, and things start to happen.
The bear starts to hang around during the daylight waiting for
someone to feed him or her, starts to patrol the edge of the river
looking for anyone who has left a nice fish, or perhaps some tasty
entrails in the shallow water. Life is good, this is easy, he doesn't
really have to work and scrounge for food. Why, there are some tasty
morsels in their packs too. Now, this bear is what you call habituated.
Habituated
He has no fear of humans, humans provide easy meals after all and
there seems to be no shortage of stupid ones around because they
keep leaving more easy meals. The poor bear is no different from
the stray dog or cat, if it can find easy available food it will
stay.
But, alas, some anglers do not appreciate the bear's presence and
call for its removal or even destruction. One irate angler went
so far as to demand the immediate removal of the bear. Personally,
I think they should have live trapped that human and transported
him a 100 miles back into the wilderness where he wouldn't have
bothered anyone. Poor bear, he was just doing what comes naturally.
Anglers wouldn't even move out of the way so he could feed.
(All previous issues are stored in the ARCHIVE
for your convenience)
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Parks rules
Something had to change, and the Parks Branch trying
to avoid a disaster, said they might close the fishery if the anglers
attitude doesn't improve. Parks put out a few rules, and there has
been a great improvement in the last couple of weeks. Anglers are
requested to clean fish immediately, dispose of entrails well out
in the fast flowing water, and take your fish up to your vehicle.
Children and pets must be close at hand and all pets must be on
leash. Anglers are asked to leave the river when the bear is there
looking for food. Finally all packs and food should be stored in
your vehicle. Sounds simple doesn't it? Just common sense.
Peer pressure
They say the best pressure is peer pressure and if
we want to keep this fishery it is up to us to make sure that we
co-exist with the bears. As Canadians we are known for our very
friendly, non-combative, not-getting-involved attitude, but that
is not always the best way.
If we want to keep that important fishery or any fishery for that
matter we have to take care of it. Snooze you lose, abuse it and
lose it.
Fishing Tips:
On Sunday, September 1, most of our rivers become
classified waters and you also need a steelhead stamp before you
can fish. Check your license to make sure you have the necessary
stamps. Coho season on the Bulkley and Morice goes till September
30 and you are allowed 4 Coho per day BUT only one over 50 cm (20
Inches). Coho season on the Kispiox starts August 31 till September
15 with again 4per day BUT only one over 50 cm.
Enjoy your Labor Day weekend.
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