By Dave Branco

Grizzly trouble

From bad actors to bad attractants, experts weigh in on grizzly trouble

Nov 28, 2025 | 3:29 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Recent reports indicate an increase in grizzly bear-human conflicts. Many people are seeking solutions to reduce these bear attacks, and one proposed option is to restore the grizzly bear harvest.

British Columbia has maintained a ban on grizzly bear trophy hunting for eight years. However, there has been an increase in conflicts between grizzly bears and humans. According to the Executive Director of the BC Wildlife Federation, Jesse Zeman, some residents are afraid to go outside.

“ You get people who now no longer want to go outside, and they don’t feel safe going outside. You get people on the other end of the spectrum who do not want to see grizzly bears on the landscape.”

Jesse Zeman

Ronald McDonald House

UHNBC celebrates opening of new space to keep families together in difficult times

7h ago

Apartment fire

Update: RCMP confirm arson investigation underway in relation to apartment fire

10h ago

B.C. politics

John Rustad resigns as leader of the B.C. Conservatives

16h ago

Executive Director, BC Wildlife Federation

Part of the conversation is about increasing the grizzly bear harvest.

UBC Biologist Dr. Clayton Lamb says increasing the harvest can be complicated, as you need good science before opening that option.

“It’s very common that when there is a conflict, you can rationalize how the bear ended up there. There are examples where bears are like people. There are some bad actors out there who are just like, Why did you do that?. But in many cases, there’s an attractant. The conflict takes two parties: people and bears.”

Dr. Clayton Lamb

Biologist, UBC

There is a bigger picture when it comes to bear conflict. According to Zeman, there is a need for more staff and systems to manage attractants. People need to keep their garbage secured, and municipalities have to enforce their bylaws.

Some scientists and the BCWF agree that research around bears is underfunded.

“ We do have many situations where the conservation of the landscape and wildlife is eroding as a result. Even the government biologists as a whole, there are not enough of them to look after the resource.”

Dr. Clayton Lamb

Biologist, UBC

For now, the trophy hunting ban remains firmly in place, but as new management plans take shape, the future of grizzly policy in the province is once again up for debate.

Email: Dave.Branco@pattisonmedia.com

TikTok: @DaveBrancoVJ