The new normal conflicts with grizzly bears will likely keep increasing, says B.C. Wildlife Federation

Grizzly bear attacks have surged in British Columbia, underscored by a recent incident near Bella Coola that left 11 individuals injured. The B. C. Wildlife Federation attributes this trend to the 2017 ban on grizzly hunting, which they claim has resulted in a dramatic increase in human-bear conflicts. Calls to the Conservation Officer Service regarding such conflicts have doubled since the hunting ban, with reports nearing 1,000 annually.

Jesse Zeman, the federation's executive director, states that without reinstating science-based wildlife management, conflicts will continue to worsen. Despite this alarming trend, officials note that the scale of Thursday’s attack is rare, with BCCOS inspector Kevin Van Damme citing his 34 years of experience without witnessing a similar event involving a large group. Traps have been deployed in the area to capture the bear responsible for the attack. The B. C.

Wildlife Federation warns that bears that learn aggressive behaviors often pass them on to their offspring, exacerbating the problem. If these issues remain unaddressed, encounters between humans and grizzlies are likely to become the new normal.