Nova Scotia spring bear hunt could reduce nuisance bears, group says

The Nova ScotiaFederation of Anglers and Hunters says it's time this province considers establishing a spring bear hunt now thatNova Scotia is the only province in Canada without one.

Ian Avery, the federation's president, says there could be as many as 10,000 black bears in the province a number that could easily sustain a spring hunt.

"We're not looking for carte blanche across the board, May 1, guns a-blazing," Avery said. "We think there's a measured approach to this and it could work."

• Ontario plans to expand spring bear hunt

Ontario was the only otherholdout, reinstating the spring bear hunt in a limited pilot project this year and expanding it province-wide for 2016.

Meanwhile, a spokesmanfrom Nova Scotia'sDepartment of Natural Resources agrees this province'spopulation is healthy.

Bob Petrie says that's based on several indicators, including the number of hunters who hunt the bears in the fall.

When hunters get a licence from DNR, they are required to report whether they successfully bagged a bear.

High success rate in autumn

Petrie says the success rate of the fall hunt has remained high for the past number of years, which indicates there are plenty of bears.

Avery believes that's because Nova Scotia creates ideal conditions for bears, with only humans as predators and only one hunt a year.

"We hear about the nuisance complaints and we hear about the bears that have to be destroyed because of their interactions with people and they are steadily on the rise every year," said Avery.

Avery said a spring hunt could also help farmerswho see their crops destroyed by hungry bears coming out of hibernation.

"They're looking for a place to go. They come across anything and everything and they'll eat it."

Avery says he's not optimistic his arguments will inspire a change from the government. Nova Scotia has never had a spring bear hunt.