FISH AND WILDLIFE DIVISION. 



BEAR BOUNTY 

 1955 - 1956. 



Under the provisions of The Wolf and Bear Bounty Act, a $10.00 bounty 

 is paid on any bear 12 months of age or over, and a $5,00 bounty Is paid on 

 any bear under 12 months of age. The bear must be killed between April 15th 

 and November 30th in a township of which 25^ of the total area is devoted to 

 agriculture and which is located in a district, or one of the counties, des- 

 cribed in the Regulations. The Act also requires that the bear must be killed 

 in defence of preservation of livestock or property by a bona fide resident of 

 the township. 



The following table shows the number of bears killed and the amount of 

 bounty paid during the past five years, including the year covered by this 

 report, 



PERIOD ADULTS CUBS BOUNTY 



For year ending Mar. 31,1952 408 29 | 4,180,00 



For year ending Mar. 31,1953 662 57 !; 6,805.00 



For year ending Mar. 31,1954 947 145 ?;10,000.00 



For year ending Mar, 31,1955 1126 99 :;11,590,00 



For year ending Mar. 31,1956 614 50 | 6,210.00 



During the year a total of 512 claims representing 614 bears and 

 50 cubs, were considered by the Department. 15 claims representing 17 bears 

 eind 2 cubs, were refused for various reasons. 



As there have been no scientific studies conducted on bear and our 

 bounty statistics go back only a relatively short time, we are unable to ex- 

 plain the sharp decrease in the bear kill this year as compared with that of 

 last year, which we believe was the peak in the bear cycle. 



The following table shows the number of bears killed in each county and 

 district on which claims for bounty were received. The figures do not include 

 however, the number of bears hunted and killed by sportsmen, on which bounty 

 is not applicable. 



- 46 - 



