Grizzlies and Canada's motor access in the news again

Canadian conservationists called for limiting off-road vehicle use in grizzly bear habitat, in an article referencing the province of Alberta's recently released report on grizzly bear numbers. The province's report called the the area south of Highway 16 (connecting Edmonton to Jasper) a "population sink," for grizzlies, which could support a sustainable population if human caused mortality — the report highlights motorized access — is reduced.

In the article, Jim Pissot, Director of Wild Canada Conservation Alliance, called for designated off-road areas in "appropriate places" and off-road vehicle trails that offer responsible recreational opportunities, but Pissot said that these routes mustn't penetrate into areas that are essential for the recovery of Alberta's grizzly bear population.

Dave Ealey, communications person for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (SRD), also said that reducing motorized access to core habitat areas was important. And that the province report reinforced the work being undertaken by the province's 2007, Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan.

Grizzly bears: 2, Motorized access: 0