No blanket wildlife rehabilitation and release prohibition is in effect for the Prince George area.
That is according to the Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship (WLRS) after the Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter (NLWS) expressed concerns around being unable to get permission to rescue young animals in the Omineca region.
“Updates were made in May to the NLWS permit to emphasize the need for regional oversight of ungulate transfer within the region, considering potential disease transfer and ongoing concerns around Chronic Wasting Disease in B.C.,” the ministry told My Bulkley Lakes Now.
It added the shelter continues to hold a valid Wildlife Act permit, including for the Omineca region, which includes Prince George.
“We also clarified existing regulations requiring Ministry approvals for capture of bear cubs, but this does not indicate a blanket rejection of bear rehabilitation work, only that it required expert review and a case-by-case decision for each individual situation,” the ministry said.
WLRS said some of the factors considered in each case include the animal’s:
- Age
- Health
- Behaviour
- Orphan status including a 48-hour observation period
- Habituation
- Survival prospects
- Rehabilitation potential
- Release opportunities
- Public safety concerns
According to the ministry, the findings are used to weigh if rehabilitation offers a better outcome than other options like relocation or leaving the bear in the wild.
Other considerations include if public safety concerns are present before being considered for rehabilitation, and a 48-hour observation period to confirm the animal’s orphaned status.
“Public concerns regarding suspected orphaned bears may be submitted through the RAPP line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or directly to regional WLRS staff, who are available Monday-Friday,” the ministry said.
WLRS said ministry staff sometimes have to make difficult decisions in their service, and any threats from the public directed toward them are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
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