In an effort to preserve grizzly bear habitat, areas of Kootenay, British Columbia, Canada is banning commercial huckleberry harvesting.
Here are some of the new regulations, according to E-Know:
From July 15 to Oct. 15, commercial-scale picking of huckleberries is prohibited in some areas of the Kootenay Boundary region, including Little Moyie and Kid Creek west of Moyie and Iron Creek/Sand Creek and Sportsman Ridge/Upper Flathead River west and south of Fernie and Monk Creek, west of Creston.
These areas have been identified as critical foraging zones for grizzly bears and other wildlife species. These areas are of high traditional value to First Nations, a Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development press release explained.
In case you are wondering what exactly is considered to be commercial-scale picking, the Nelson Star explains:
Commercial-scale harvesting is defined as:
- Harvest or possession of huckleberries exceeding 10 litres per person, per season
- Use of mechanical pickers, or any device other than hand-picking
- Harvest of any amount of huckleberries for the purpose of resale
If you were planning a trip to pick huckleberries in this area, the following is a link to a map identifying the closed areas are available online: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/kootenay/eco/access.htm
Related story here: Commercial ban on huckleberry picking
Related story here: Huckleberries in jeopardy
