By Mark Hall
Informed Conservation and Animal Welfare: Facts Matter
The Animal Alliance of Canada, an animal welfare organization based in Toronto, has recently been in the spotlight due to its newly released report calling for the end of Manitoba’s spring black bear hunt. The report, echoing past campaigns in other provinces, asserts that hundreds of black bear cubs are orphaned annually by this practice—a claim that warrants scrutiny.
It’s essential to recall that similar arguments were made regarding Ontario’s spring black bear hunt, when claims of widespread orphaning were later refuted by provincial biologists. Now, as the debate resurfaces in Manitoba, it is crucial to examine both the report’s methodology and the broader context of black bear management.
Examining the Data
At first glance, the Animal Alliance’s report presents itself as a detailed and scientific document. However, a closer look at the literature it cites reveals inconsistencies: not all referenced sources support the conclusions drawn, and, in some instances, directly contradict the Alliance’s assertions.
The central argument is that spring hunting results in a significant number of orphaned cubs—specifically, the report claims that 224 cubs were orphaned by hunters in Manitoba in the spring of 2023. This figure is based on extrapolating the proportion of female bears with cubs, average litter sizes, and harvest data. However, the methodology overlooks several critical biological realities:
- Not all harvested females are of breeding age. Black bears typically reproduce around age six, meaning younger females would not have cubs.
- Female bears may be solitary for many natural reasons unrelated to hunting, such as cub mortality in the den, sexually selective infanticide (SSI) or natural abandonment due to stress or poor health.
- Black bears have a two-year reproductive cycle—not every mature female has cubs each year.
Scientific studies indicate that solitary females, rather than those with cubs, are most frequently taken by hunters during spring hunts. Therefore, the 224 orphaned cubs cited by the Animal Alliance is a hypothetical projection, not a confirmed figure.
The Science Behind Cub Orphaning
To bolster its case, the Animal Alliance references a peer-reviewed paper lead by scientist Hank Hristienko. Ironically, this study was published to address similar claims of widespread orphaning. Using rigorous field data and mathematical modeling, the Hristienko paper estimated that, at most, 41 cubs might be orphaned annually due to hunting—a figure that accounts for less than 2 percent of natural cub mortality. This context highlights that the potential impact of hunting on cub orphaning is comparatively minor.
When peer-reviewed science did not support their elevated numbers, the Alliance leaned on anecdotal evidence, such as media reports about individual cubs, an older, non-peer-reviewed discussions among biologists (notably the Beck paper from the 1990s) to argue that hunters cannot distinguish between males and females and may inadvertently orphan cubs by shooting mothers whose young are hidden nearby. Presenting opinion and anecdote as scientific fact, however, undermines the credibility of their case.
Conservation, Animal Welfare, and Philosophical Differences
At its heart, the debate over spring black bear hunting is shaped as much by philosophy as by science. Animal welfare advocates tend to focus on the well-being of individual animals and favour a risk-free, zero-harm standard. Hunters and wildlife managers, meanwhile, balance individual welfare with population-level sustainability, seeking to minimize harm while ensuring overall species health.
Both perspectives are valid and deserve respect. However, responsible wildlife policy must be grounded in scientific evidence and a clear-eyed assessment of ecological realities.
Is the Manitoba Spring Black Bear Hunt Ecologically Responsible?
Sustainability is the cornerstone of responsible wildlife management. Canadian black bear populations are not at risk—today, they occupy 95 percent of their historical range and are managed with modern conservation principles. The shift in the early 20th century from seeing black bears as vermin to recognizing them as valuable game animals is a Canadian conservation success story.
In Manitoba, the spring black bear hunt is tightly regulated and monitored. Evidence suggests that its impact on bear populations, including cub orphaning, is minimal and well within natural limits. The practice meets legal definitions of humaneness, prioritizing the avoidance or minimization of pain and distress.
Conclusion
The Animal Alliance of Canada’s advocacy for animal welfare is commendable, and ongoing scrutiny of hunting practices is both necessary and healthy for conservation. However, the conversation must remain rooted in factual, peer-reviewed science rather than anecdote, projection or philosophical ideologies.
When it comes to the Manitoba spring black bear hunt, the best available evidence indicates that the practice is both ecologically responsible and humane. Let us continue to debate and improve our practices but let us do so with respect for both science and the diversity of perspectives in Canadian society.
Cover photo © geoffkuchera/Adobe Stock