Dear Editor,

As a bear researcher and registered professional biologist I was surprised to see the letter to Whistler’s Mayor and Council as published in the Whistler Question on Oct. 8, “Biodiversity concerns raised.” In my professional opinion the concerns presented in the article are unfounded in science.

I am one of the biologists who contributed information to the plant list in question and stand by my recommendations. I based my recommendations on 16 years of bear research and expertise in this area. If Whistler’s goal is to “restore and ultimately maintain ecological integrity and biodiversity,” then yes, that goal doesn’t support artificially landscaped plants within a town; however, it also does not support the planting of native fruit-bearing vegetation within town when it is at the expense of creating “problem” bears, bringing humans and bears into closer contact, and potentially destroying bears – also a species indigenous to the area and therefore a part of its ecological integrity and biodiversity. The plant list developed by the Bear Working Group does not suggest planting non-native species, it simply suggests not planting high-quality bear forage items within urban developments. I have made similar recommendations for Prince George in the Conflict Management Plan and I stand behind those recommendations. Being proactive in reducing and addressing human-bear conflicts is paramount to increasing public safety and reducing the number of bears destroyed.

Lana Ciarniello, PhD, RPBio.