Black Bear
The Black Bear (Ursus americanus) is a mammal that is widespread throughout Canada and is recognized for its black color and white patch on its chest. The length of an adult varies from 1.5 to 1.8 meters. These bears are agile climbers due to their sharp, curved, black claws. Black bears are mostly vegetarian, however, they do feed on small mammals, birds, and insects. They are very common throughout Labrador and can occupy various habitats throughout the year such as forests, wetlands, streams, open patches, and hillside areas. This species is not considered to be at risk under SARA and COSEWIC.
Black bears are an important species for the Innu and are very common in river valleys like Lower Churchill River valley, therefore the Project could have great effects on it. (Nalcor 2009, Vol. 2B).
To learn more about the Black Bear, feel free to visit this website: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/black-bear/
Black bears are an important species for the Innu and are very common in river valleys like Lower Churchill River valley, therefore the Project could have great effects on it. (Nalcor 2009, Vol. 2B).
To learn more about the Black Bear, feel free to visit this website: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/black-bear/
Impacts of the project
The Black Bear is very common in river valleys throughout Labrador including the Lower Churchill river valley. The impact of the Project on the Black Bear is that construction activities will destroy their habitats. Furthermore, increasing the human-bear interactions with the personnel at the construction site will also adversely effect the Bears. (Nalcor 2009, Vol. 2B).
mitigation measures proposed by nalcor energy
- Develop protocols to mitigate for disturbance and incidental take and outline how construction would minimize these effects
- Reduce wildlife mortality by posting speed limits and implementing a no harassment/no harvesting policy
- Ensure site waste management and relocate nuisance animals
- Conduct summer and winter ground surveys of wildlife habitat association transects to establish a baseline and examine changes in distribution and abundance for wildlife
- Monitor seasonal changes in habitat distribution for black bears using telemetry
- Conduct an assessment of trapping data pre- and post-Project
- Carry out monitoring programs for each key indicator species to aid in the development of adaptive management procedures
- Record and report animal mortality related to the Project
(N.B. These are the exact, unmodified mitigation measures proposed by Nalcor Energy themselves) (Joint Panel Review, 2011)
Critique
The comparision was conducted using other projects such as Dunvegan Hydroelectric Project (Alberta), Eastmain-1-A and Rupert Diversion Project (Quebec), Keeyask Generation Project (Manitoba), Lower Mattagami River Hydroelectric Complex Project (Ontario), Romaine River Hydroelectric Project (Quebec).
Positive Aspects
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Negative Aspects
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