Proposed spring bear hunt in Nova Scotia scrapped after public consultation

The Canadian Press
·1 min read

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia has decided to shelve plans for a spring bear hunt after a public consultation revealed a "very divided" population.

A news release today from the province's Natural Resources Department says about 51 per cent of the more than 17,000 Nova Scotians who responded to an online survey opposed the proposed hunt, while 47 per cent were in favour and two per cent were neutral.

The department says Nova Scotia is the only province in Canada with a black bear population that doesn’t have a spring hunt.

The hunt proposed in January by Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton would have lasted five weeks beginning in May, targeting only male bears and females with no cubs.

It would have been open to Nova Scotia residents with a bear-hunting licence.

The province's black bear population is estimated to be around 6,600, and the department says there will be no changes to the existing fall bear hunt.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2024.

The Canadian Press

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