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The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 3, 1995-C1

“TERRACE STANDARD

INSIDE
SPORTS MENU C2.

SECTION C
MALCOLM BAXTER 638-7283

SKEENA’ ANGLER |
ROB BROWN

Grizzly facts

R, MIKE O’NEILL, regional presi-
dent of the B.C, Wildlife Federation,
is upset over the decision of the min-
istry of Environment, Lands and
Parks (MOELP) to place a moratorium on the

_ hunting of Grizzlies in the Kitlope Valley.

T assume Mr. O'Neill has canvassed his organi-
zation, both focally and provincially, before
questioning the scientific validity of studies un-
dertaken by MOELP scientists and the integrity of
managers who have decided to act on those
Studies. I hope he has carefully considered the
delicate position his constituency is in before in-
veighing against what he obviously fecls is a
wound inflicted on the hunting community,

The vast majorily of the populace does not hunt
and many people are adamantly opposed to it. Mr.

O’Neill must know that trophy bunting — a pur- .

suit conducted by a very small segment of the
population (less than one-tenth of one percent
apply for licences to shoot grizzly bears) — is
viewed with repugnance by an increasing number
of people in this province, many of whom are not
only vocal but also willing to take action to halt a
praclice they view with horror. Moreover, media
coverage of poaching for parts has led to growing
public awarencss (hat bears are under siege.

Given the inflammatory nature of the issue,
O'Neill might have chosen a more prudent
response, publicly applauding ihe MOELP bear
closure while privately assuring bis constituents
that by erring on (he side of caution, the ministry
was protecting the species in that corner of the
world, thereby cusuring possibility of a hunt in
the future.

It appears O’Neill feels strongly enough about
his beliefs and has enough confidence in his posi-
tion 10 withstand the heat bis remarks are sure to
generate, “It’s a political situation and bas noth-
ing to do with biology as far as we’re con-
cemed,’’ he said before indicating to the reporter
that he thought there were twice as many grizzlies
in the Kitlope Area than the MOELP says. I have
made three trips to the Kitlope. I saw a great deal
of the lower valley by boat. I walked Kalitan
Creek when it was full of ripe sockeye and hiked
miles through a swamp filled with devil’s club
and presided over by giant spruce. Both of these
places should'have been cluttered with bear sign.
T saw one small irack on a sand bar. I saw no
bears, biack or grizzled. When I walk the Lakelse,
or the Copper, or any of the other rivers near my
home, ] see plenty of sign and I regularly see
bears. To me, these experiences suggest there are
few bears in the Kitlope, But, I’m no expert.

The Haisla have much more experience than I;
some of the elders have a lifetime of experience,
The estuary of the Kitlope, like that of the Khut-
zeymatcen, is prime grizzly habitat. The Haisla
report that sceing a dozen bears grazing in the
estuary Was not uncommon in the past, For years
there have been no sightings.

To confirm their suspicion that Kitlope grizzly
were in trouble, the Haisla hired Wayne McCrory,
a respected bear biologist who has extensive cx-
perience with grizzly. Based on observations,
Study and a review of the literature McCrory con-
cluded that the MOELP grizzly estimates of 300
to 500 bears in Management Unil 6-03, including
170 bears in the Kitope, were highly inflated.
This is no surprise to anyone who knows the
poverty ‘siricken slate of Fish and Wildlife
budgets and the chronic understaffing that exists
in what has, after years of neglect by politicians
who assigned no priority to environmental issucs,
become the orphaned waif of government mini-
stries.

Alter two recent trips by their biologists to the
area in question, the ministry drastically reduced
their estimates (o 80 bears in MU-6-03, with 12 to
24 of those estimated to dwell in the Kidope.

According to Bruce Hill, director of the Haisla’s
Nanakila Institute, even ihe two guides opcrating
in MU 6-03 agree with the Haisla contention the
grizzly there arc in distress. Yet ali of this is not
good enough for O’Neill who has never set foot
in the Kitlope, which makes me wonder how he
arrived at his thesis of bear abundance. Did he
rely on gut feel? Did be consult a Ouija board?
Apparently Mr. O'Neill feels it is not necessary to
assemble facts in support of one’s arguments
when one is a junlor Ayatollah in a confederation
of rod and gun clubs.

O’Neill whines about a lack of due process, in-
sinuating that the provincial government made its
decision to mollify the Haisla, Ah yes, another
conspiracy theory. Once again Big Government is
giving something lo the injuns (God knows, they
have so much already).

I’m tired and saddened by these paranoid,
covertly racist attitudes from some sportsmen. Is
there something in the job description for
Regional Wildlife Presidency that says the person

‘whigtaccepts. the post, is required to check his

thinking cap at the door, put his brain in neutral
and start shooling from the lip?

SPORTS _

Soccer emergency

YOUTH SOCCER Is
supposed to kick off this
coming Saturday, May 6.

But a lot of kids are
going to find themselves
silting on the sidelines
unless seven more coaches
can be found.

TYSA spokesman Val
Belina explained it would
be unfair to let some
teams play while others
were forced to sit out just
because they didn’t have a
coach.

So it had been decided
where there was a
shortage of bench

patrollers, the entire
division would be shut
down until all spots were
filled.

Belina emphasized a lack
of coaching experience
was nothing to worry
about.

Help and advice would
be there for those who
needed it and the
association offered
coaching clinics.

The season runs from
May to the end of August
with playoffs slated for
September. She said the
time commitment was

about three hours a week,
split between one practice
and one game.

She also suggested
anyone interested try and
find a buddy to be an
assistant and back-up who
could cover if the coach
couldn’t make it for
whatever reason,

TYSA is also in need of
referees, ‘‘as many as we
can get’’, said Belina,
adding even being able to
referee one game a month
would be a big help.

Again, experience is not
mandatory, “Anyone

who’s ever played soccer
can referee up to Under:
12s,’’ she explained. The
association could also
offer new referees
instruction videos and
books and would run
small clinics for
newcomers.

Anyone who’s prepared
to take up the whistle
should contact John
Perras at 635-4896,

Potential coaches are
urged to call Luis Teixeira
at 635-4725.

Or call Bey Bujtas at
635-3719.

Athletes shine in opener

THE TRACK and field season

~ gol off to a promising start for

Terrace athletes as they hosted
the first regional meet of the
year.

The host squad won the meet
by a comfortable 23 point
margin and cheered on David
and Heather Kelly to their
respective divisional titles.

Heather Kelly had to settle
for the runner-up spot behind
teammate Corisa Berlin in the
100m but found none better in
the Bantam Girls 200m and
400m and came close to set-
ling a new meet record in the
long jump.

David followed much the
same path in the Midget Boys
events, winning the 200m and
400m after a second place fin-
ishin the 100m.

Noting both had been train-
ing well, coach Dave O’Brien
described the pair as having
“oodles of potential”’.

He expected Heather would
qualify for this year’s B.C.

Summer Games and_ said - |

David might have a shot at the
High School provincials.

A certain provincials candi-
date, O’Brien said, is Shawn
Cross who took the Juvenile
long jump and finished second
in the high jump and 200m,
“He’s very strong in jumping
and could dominate there, ¢s-
pecially in the triple jump.”

Another who is looking good
early on is Berlin who added a
high jump victory to her 100m
win, Also in the Bantam divi-

sion, Melanie Makon stretched ©

out for victories in the 800m,
1500m and 3000m.
Julie Freeman and Pamela

Haugland were strong in the
field, Freeman winning . the

Cont’d page C5

TERRACE BLUEBACKS
split its forces April 21-23 but
whether they went east or
west, the swimmers put in en-
couraging performances,

Coach Mike Carlyle ex-
plained the novice and devel-
opmental level I swimmers
took in the Prince Rupert
regional mect while more ex-
petienced members headed
east. for the Prince Gcorge
Moose Mect.

“Prince George was a step
or two higher than Prince
Rupert, Carlyle said, adding
that was just what Thomas
Demetzer, 9, needed.

“He has little competition in
this region and he got a litile
bitof a push there,’’

And Demetzer pushed right
back, carving out. eight top-
three finishes Including a win
in the 100m Free and posting
six personal best times on the
way to a bronze medal in the

AMONG THE newcomers to this year's Terrace ‘schools track and field team Is.
Camilo Desierto. Coach Dave O'Brien says it’s still too early to assess the new

blood but notes they have helped make for a more balanced team than last year.

Moose gives swimmers a push

Thomas Demetzer

10 years and under group.
Bryan -Palahicky, 12, also

- lowered a half dozen of his

PBs, picking up a second in
the 200m Breast and third in
the 100m Breast.

Thirteen-year-old Greg Nartz
was also sharp, going six for
seven on fastest times with a
couple of top six finishes,
while Jennifer Kester went
four for six including slashing
more than five seconds of her
previous best 100m Free time.

In Prince Rupert fast times
were not the focus, “The
priority was technique more

than speed,’’ Carlyle said, ex- .

plaining the club had wanted
to reduce the number of dis-
qualifications.

Noting there had been 11
DQs at the last Terrace meet,
he said some of the swimmers
had been having trouble with
their turns.

And with the DQ figure for
the Rupert meet coming in at
just four, the effort appeared
to have paid off.

Although it might not have
been the main goal, a number
of swimmers did tum on the

speed. Jason Kumpolt posted
six PBs and chopped his 100m
Fly time by close to six sec
onds.

Kumpolt also came away
with the overall bronze in the
11-12 years division, a result
which was particularly pleas--
ing. “‘He’s normally close but
just missing (the medals),”
Carlyle said.

Also bronzing at Rupert was
Jamie Kerman in the 15 years
and up group. In the same
group, Jeff Lavoie lowered all
five of previous PBs.

Others lowering most or all.

of their times were Michael -.

Horn, Ashley Kerr, Tanis
Mandzuk, William Shack and
Keely Wallace.

Shack finished fifth overall
in the 10 years and under divi-
sion behind teammate Court-
land Sandover-Sly who fin:

ished in the top four in all -

seven of his races,