B.C. First Nation feeds hungry grizzlies 500 salmon carcasses

When Richard Sumner saw how emaciated the grizzly bears were in his neck of the woods, he knew something had to be done.

Sumner, chief councillor of theMamalilikulla First Nation, says the creeks and streams on the nation's territory, which encompass the islands off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island between Alert Bay and Knight Inlet, are no longer rich with salmon, and resident bears are starving and travelling outside traditional hunting grounds in a desperate effort to find food.

So theMamalilikullapeople fed them.

The nation's Guardian Watchmen Manager, Jake Smith, had a local hatchery donateapproximately 500 salmon carcasses and members of the nation took the fish to estuary areas where grizzlies are known to feed.

"I'm hoping it's not too little too late," said Sumner in a phone interview on CBC's On The Island,adding there are many other areas of British Columbia where bearsthat depend on salmon are hungry.

Migrating for meals

He said grizzliesare starting to travel between all the small islands in the areaand are even making their way over to Vancouver Island in search of fish, something that rarely happened in the past.

"The lack of salmon is not a natural thing," said Sumner, who blamedhuman activity such as deforestation and over-fishing for reducingsalmon stocks to perilous levels.

Climate change resulting in warmer ocean temperatures has also been cited by marine scientists as a major factor in dwindling salmon stocks.

Sumnersaid while he understands humans should not interfere with wild animals, theMamalilikulla people are the stewards of their territory and according to Sumner, the alternative was to watch the bears die.

"We just hope we can get enough bulk on them to last the winter," said Sumner.

Some of the400 members of the Mamalilikulla nation aresuffering too.

"Nobody has any fish in their freezer or any canned fish for the winter," he said. "It's been a real disastrous year."

Sumner does not know if more fish will be available for future deliveries.

Province responds

Sumner said he ismeeting Thursday with a bear biologist and provincial authoritiesto discuss the issue further.

A statement from a spokesperson with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations Friday said provincial biologists cannot confirm why the bears appear to be in poor shape.

The spokesperson said the number of bears on the coast are stable orincreasing and that this often means more competition for resources.

"The public is reminded to never feed wildlife for the safety of themselves and the bears," the statement continued.

Itsaid provincial representatives are working with the Mamalilikulla First Nation to share information and monitor the health of wildlife.

To hear the complete interview with Richard Sumner, see the audio link below: