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Letter: Tri-City bear deaths are conservation officers' fault

Letter writer is "shocked that The Tri-City News' editorial attempting to defend the slaughtering of bears by conservation officers" in Coquitlam
bear hunt
Conservation officer Wyatt Pile and Mackenzie Mercer, who is a wildlife safety officer, were working in Mundy Park Wednesday, July 24 after it was reported that a bear and cubs were in the area not far from Spani Pool, where children were playing.

The Editor,

Re. "Editorial: Don't blame conservation officers for bear deaths" (Opinion, The Tri-City News, Aug. 15).

I am shocked that The Tri-City News' editorial attempting to defend the slaughtering of bears by conservation officers. Unbelievable.

OK, you want to talk about "attractants," let's do it…

First, the cities need to remove all fruit-bearing trees and plants. Next, all vegetable gardens must be removed. Now, each city needs to pass bylaws outlawing these attractants. Also, all parks must be sign-posted prohibiting food of any kind as well as sweet drinks. And finally, there must be a stricter enforcement of bins on properties.

So, where's the effort? There isn't any. And until there is political will to do so, nothing will be done.

Now, of course, none of the above will ever be done or even thought of. So, let's get to the issue at hand: There is no meaningful program of rehabilitation, no program to retrain errant bears, no program to at least give a sincere effort to save these creatures by trying to redirect them onto a different life path.

The simple solution is simply pull the trigger, drop the hammer and move on. And it's the conservation officers doing these killings.

I accept that there are so many variables in play that it will remain virtually impossible to prevent confrontations of sorts. But killing these beasts simply because it's the short and direct path, is not the answer. And it is we, the humans, who continue to encroach and destroy habitat. These beasts are just trying to survive, however they can.

And don't give me the argument that is bantered about that no conservation officer wants to kill. They have the licence to kill and they do so.

So, attempting to defend the officers and their actions is reprehensible. I say I blame them directly.

I will never, under any circumstance, contact a conservation officer for anything — ever.

It's a very sad day for your editorial staff.

Michael Sonntag, Port Coquitlam