Blame, in this unfortunate fatal bear collision near Luskville, it seems, is being cast in a number of areas, and we have several experts on hand to attest to that:
Here is a list I have compiled of factors identified by several experts as being to blame:
1) Hunters are to blame for pursuing bears over bait. 2) Three registered black bear outfitters are to blame – who operate in that area (between 70 – 100 km away) 3) A black bear sow’s maternal instincts are to blame 4)Gatineau Park is also to blame for having no bear season 5) Bear hunting itself could really be to blame, although stats show it is more popular in other areas of the province. 6) Bear populations are also to blame as stats show bear numbers are on the increase, and finally 7) Road conditions are to blame because of an 80 KM per hour speed limit along the 148 and poor visibility at that time of night.
When sifting thru the reasons why this terrible accident happened, there is something that keeps jumping out at me…this was a FREAK ACCIDENT and a terrible one; no doubt.
It was so rare; in fact, I could not find another case in North America where multiple fatalities resulted from a bear – vehicle collision. I couldn’t find a case where even one person died from hitting a bear on the road.
Sure, we can cast blame until we are blue in the face and it is human nature – don’t get me wrong – to look for a cause, or blame following such a terrible loss. The fact of the matter is, though, we have wildlife in our region and vehicle strikes do occur – usually not with such unfortunate outcome, but it happens.
The province of Quebec does their best to control bear numbers with 1, and in some cases 2 hunting seasons throughout the year.
Could more be do to thin the bear numbers in western QC and eastern ON?
Possibly, but what the stats don’t show is that bruin numbers in the Pontiac and Outaouais are actually lower today than they were a few years back, before expended hunting opportunities were introduced in that region.
I feel very very sad for the families and loved ones, but we need to keep things in perspective here. This type of accident could easily have been called ‘an act of God’ as the way things unfolded on that hwy the other evening is perhaps the biggest fluke in big-game collision history.
I can’t even imagine one of my family or friends being involved and you hate to say such a tragedy could be chalked up to bad luck, but really that is the truth of the matter.
Outdoorsguy