Motor vehicle closures to protect grizzly bears

[Sirloin]

The Province, in partnership with Lil’wat Nation and Coast to Cascades Grizzly Bear Initiative, is taking action to protect grizzly bears by closing two resource roads in the Upper Lillooet and Birkenhead River areas.


Starting this year, Birkenhead Lake Forest Service Road will be closed at the Cerulean Creek bridge (approximately 19 kilometres along the road) from July 15 to Oct. 30, 2018, and Lillooet South Forest Service Road will be closed at approximately the two-kilometre mark from April 1 to June 15, 2018, and Sept. 16 to Nov. 30, 2018. These annual closures are part of a continued effort to protect threatened grizzly bears in the Sea to Sky Natural Resource District.


The Upper Lillooet and Birkenhead River areas contain sensitive grizzly bear habitat. In addition to the areas' high natural productivity of high-energy food (specifically huckleberries and salmon), they provide multi-season core habitats for female grizzly bears and their cubs. The areas also serve as a natural-movement corridor that enables grizzlies and other wildlife to access other, more remote areas.


Road improvements to support resource development in the area have led to an increase of motorized public access. Closures on resource roads during these sensitive times decreases the risk of human encounters with female bears and cubs, as well as the likelihood of disturbing feeding bears.


The most recent closures are in addition to 13 previously announced closures that resulted from the 2008 Sea-to-Sky Land and Resource Management Plan, and build on recommendations from the auditor general’s report on grizzly bear management. The decision is a result of land-use planning collaboration between the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Coast to Cascades Grizzly Bear Initiative and Lil’wat Nation, and is based on the results of ongoing research of grizzly bear populations.


The closures were recommended in the report Motorized Access Management: Recommendations to Protect Grizzly Bears in the Upper Lillooet River Area.


https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/dsq/Stewar...rch29_2018.pdf

[S.W.A.T.]

No fish=much less bears

Just saying

[wos]

How is that supposed to help grizzly bear??? They are closed to hunting and it's not in the name of science or conservation! Now we can't use roads near bear habitat?

[pro 111]

Agreed . Start writing some letters. I would target the bands with your letters. I think many of the bands have been ****ed over by these greenies . Perswading them to hault the hunting of the grizz. I think that there are a ton of first nations out there that think banning a bear hunt is a crock of shit.. Clayton Mac of Bella Coola would be rolling in his grave. Were letting this shit get outa hand now. If we dont wright and fight . . we cant complain..

How is that supposed to help grizzly bear??? They are closed to hunting and it's not in the name of science or conservation! Now we can't use roads near bear habitat?

[Sirloin]

Closures for THEE but not for ME

[303savage]

I think it's time that our Government quit kissing native ass. I sort of agree with Native rights but I don't agree with natives using our technology while exercising those rights.

[wos]

What!!! How is that supposed to work? Not management at all in my opinion.

[S.W.A.T.]

That is actually the definition of racism right there

[Mulehahn]

So the one group that is legally allowed to hunt Grizzlies is also the only group that will have access to the area?

The courts have ruled time and time again that the only thing that trumps First Nation rights is conservation. If it is to the point that merely driving the area will result in the the grizzly bears disappearing from the area then surely allowing uncontrolled and undocumented hunting of them will have a much more detrimental affect. Native rights are a fact that we have to accept. But limitations on those rights must also be accepted. if conservation was truly paramount like it is supposed to be most would gladly accept these closures and other actions. These backdoor land deals on the other hand are a hard pill to swallow.

[4 point]

FN are winning in little bits at a time, all the time, all over on many different matters. Governments are scared of them and some court decisions that have gone in their favor only fuel the notion to move ahead for more & more. While most average Canadians who aren’t directly affected at first don’t even notice. Going to be a sad outcome at some point when the totality of it all is realized. And no I am not racist.