VANCOUVER -- Conservation officers kill almost 60 cougars for every one relocated in B.C., Ministry of Environment statistics reveal.

Officers destroyed 352 cougars during the last four years — about one every four days — compared with just six relocated and 13 hazed to make them afraid of humans, such as with rubber bullets, dogs or loud noise.

Some 72 grizzly bears were also killed during the same four-year period while 24 were relocated, 25 were hazed and six cubs were taken to rehabilitation centres. For perspective, the 72 grizzlies destroyed is more than 10 times the number thought to exist in the entire North Cascade mountain range of Washington state and southern B.C.

These deaths are in addition to 1,872 black bears — almost 500 a year — killed by conservation officers during the past four years. Just 126 black bears were relocated during that period, 464 were hazed, and 137 cubs were taken to rehabilitation centres.

The acting deputy chief of the Conservation Officer Service, Chris Doyle, did not respond to The Sun’s request for an interview.

The actions of the Service have come under the international criticism following the suspension of officer Bryce Casavant for refusing to kill two eight-week-old black bears cubs on July 5 near Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island. The cubs are in the care of the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, one of three private bear rehabilitation facilities in B.C.

Conservation officers destroy predators thought to pose a threat to people and property, with liability concerns high in their minds.

Critics argue that B.C. officers are too quick to shoot — especially young cubs that can be successfully rehabilitated.

“I don’t know of any jurisdiction that takes such a cavalier attitude about killing conflict bears as B.C., and none that routinely kill cubs of conflict bears,” said John Beecham, a consultant and bear biologist retired from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

The province says it does not record how many cubs and kittens were among those killed.

A study published in the online publication PLOS ONE in 2014 found that bear use of urban areas is reversible and fluctuates with the availability of natural food resources, and that killing of urban bears in times of food failures can harm populations.

Else Poulsen, an Ontario-based consultant on wildlife rehabilitation and captive wildlife management, said terms such as “habituation” and “food conditioning” can be misused and misunderstood. Cubs can be taught new behaviours and wild bears can stop seeing humans as a food source if people stop making food available to them.

Soon-to-be published research by Beecham found no evidence that captive-reared black bears from mothers with a known history of conflict behaviour were more prone to become involved in conflict than bears from mothers with no known history of conflict.

His study also found that only about six per cent of captive-reared black bears in seven jurisdictions in the U.S. and Ontario became involved in conflict situations. Hunting regulations are one of the main factors in determining cub survival. First-year survival rates post-release ranged from 50 to 90 per cent.

lpynn@vancouversun.comwith files from Chad Skelton

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