Photo Grizzly Bear Foundation
The Grizzly Bear Foundation is launching a photo contest to celebrate the province's decision to ban grizzly bear hunting.
"We're encouraging people to go bear viewing with a guide to take a photo and submit it through our website for a chance to win some prizes," says Nicholas Scapillati, executive director of the Grizzly Bear Foundation.
Photographers are encouraged to shoot sharp, high resolution photos with the accompanying hashtag #TriggersToTripods. The contest closes November 15 and winners will be announced on December 15.
The first place winner will be named Canadian Amateur Grizzly Photographer of the Year and receive $1,000.
The Grizzly Bear Foundation also recently released a food security report to highlight other threats to the bear's survival.
"We thought that this is a great time to talk about food security because the bears are waking up hungry after a long winter's nap," says Scapillati.
He says the report examines whether salmon runs are declining or how the availability of berries and whitebark pine cones, important grizzly bear food, are being influenced by climate change.
Scapillati adds that safe access to food, away from dumps, garbage cans and other areas that might cause them to come into contact with humans is also important.
Most of the critical populations he says, are in southwestern British Columbia and the foundation is working on followup reports to guide conservation efforts. "Healthy predator populations mean that you have healthy ecosystems. It's really important that we protect them."
More details on the photo contest are available here.
