Bear trophy hunt opposed at B.C. legislature rally

Dozens gathered at the B.C. legislature Saturday afternoon for a 'Save B.C. Bears' rally following a Facebook campaign that organizers say has garnered more than 100 thousand views.

Event organizer Chelsea Turner says she wants to focus attention on the trophy hunt.

'"Do we want our province to be branded as a place to shoot iconic species?- event organizer Chelsea Turner

"This is an issue that really engages people," Turner said.  "It's something people want to talk about." 

Turner, who has been advocating for and filming bears since the age of 14, says the vast majority of British Columbians are opposed to hunting them for trophies.

"When the government doesn't reflect that, it's a travesty," she said. "Do we want our province to be branded as the best place on earth' or as a place to shoot iconic species?"

Turner says the vast majority of tourists come here to see live bears, not hunt them. 

Order of B.C. recipient and long time environmentalist Vicky Husband says the moratorium on grizzly bear hunting that was removed by the Liberal government should be re-instated. 

"The government should be listening to the public.  We do not want to see these bears killed, said Husband.  This is not sport and this is not for food.  The buck stops with Christy Clark and if she's not listening to the 90 percent of British Columbians who want it banned, who is she listening to?"

B.C. Fish and Wildlife Director Andrew Wilson, said recently in response to these concerns, he's confident in how grizzly bears are managed and the government's own analysis, based on the best available science,  supports how government is managing the grizzly bear hunt..