The Origins Foundation Podcast

Episode 597 – Mark Hall || Project Grizzly Balance

Date: September 30, 2025
Host: The Origins Foundation
Guest: Mark Hall (Director of Wild Origins Canada)

Episode Overview

This episode features Mark Hall, Director of Wild Origins Canada, discussing "Project Grizzly Balance"—an initiative aiming to reclaim the narrative around grizzly bear conservation and management in British Columbia and greater Western Canada. Mark and the host delve deeply into the impacts of the ban on grizzly bear hunting, the loss of science-driven management, social consequences for rural communities, and a vision for a more balanced coexistence through sustainable use and amplified marginalized voices.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context and Genesis of Project Grizzly Balance

• Background:
  Grizzly bear hunting was banned in British Columbia in 2016/2017 (and earlier in Alberta), triggering profound management and social shifts.
• Mark’s Motivation:
  The ban, the negative public narrative, and lack of a Canadian voice in the debate motivated Mark Hall to advocate for balanced, science-based wildlife policy.
• Origins of Advocacy:
  Mark’s journey began with the founding of the Hunter Conservationist Podcast after observing the silencing of local hunters and lack of influential Canadian voices during the initial ban debates.
  • Quote:
    "I realized that Canada was lacking that voice. And so I started writing and wading into the grizzly bear issue...and that led to the Hunter Conservationist Podcast." — Mark (10:53)

2. Consequences of the Grizzly Bear Hunting Ban

A. Diminished Science and Management Capacity

• Loss of Government-Led Research:
  With hunting banned, government support for population monitoring and research diminished.
  • Quote:
    "When Dr. McClellan, Tony Hamilton, when those fellows retired, that was it...We're now down to one [large carnivore specialist] for all of British Columbia." — Mark (16:12)
• Lack of Data & Management Targets:
  Management plans became vague and lacked clear, actionable targets or population science.

B. Impact on Conservation and Human Populations

• Unmanaged Population Risks:
  Certain grizzly bear populations (e.g., North Cascade unit) now face genetic isolation and decline due to lack of immigration/emigration and insufficient monitoring.
  • Quote:
    "That's death, that's the death knell for any animal population...this requires a lot of science. What's going on?" — Mark (24:24)
• Rising Human-Wildlife Conflict:
  Rural voices’ concerns have been dismissed, leading to growing frustration and increased grizzly-human conflicts.
  • Quote:
    "I'm seeing...the loss of social tolerance, the increasing conflict, the increasing human caused mortality and no sustainable use is part of that whatsoever." — Mark (19:15)
• Increase in Illegal Killings:
  Mark notes an uptick in undocumented or illegal grizzly mortality ("shoot, shovel, shut up") since the hunting ban.

3. Grizzly Bear Biology & Science-Driven Management

• K-Selected Species Explanation:
  Grizzlies are slow to reproduce and vulnerable to any increase in mortality; sustainable hunting relied on rigorous data and adaptive management.
  • Quote:
    "A K-selected species is an animal whose reproduction rates are very slow...for grizzly bears it's about 10 years." — Mark (27:12)
• Example of Past Rigorous Management:
  British Columbia previously shut down hunts when mortality targets were reached, illustrating adaptive management at work.

4. Social Value and the Role of Sustainable Use

• Loss of Social Tolerance:
  The ban has diminished the value/importance rural people place on grizzlies, escalating frustration and potentially illegal responses.
  • Quote:
    "When you take hunting away, bears lose their value. And they're not just losing their value with hunters going, 'I don't care about grizzly bears'...But it's a reality." — Mark (39:40)
• Parallel with Global Conservation:
  Mark draws analogies to Africa, India, and South America to highlight that human-wildlife conflict, when unmanaged, produces similar social outcomes regardless of country.

5. Project Grizzly Balance: Goals and Strategic Actions

• Amplifying Marginalized Voices:
  Aim to let rural residents, First Nations, ranchers, Outfitters, and others closest to grizzlies influence the conversation and policy.

• Documentary & Media Campaigns:
  Plans for powerful storytelling through documentaries, podcasts, social and traditional media to reach a wide audience.

• Commission and Policy Engagement:
  Formal process to collect rural experiences, create "what we heard" reports, and deliver them to policymakers to counterbalance well-funded, anti-hunting narratives.

• Restoring Balance in Narrative and Policy:
  Seek a seat at the policy table, particularly where philanthropist-backed foundations dominate grizzly management decisions.

  • Quote:
    "One of my first and foremost objectives is I want to start champion those voices and letting the masses hear what these people have to say because they're being squashed and silenced and bullied and threatened with lawsuits to keep the hell quiet." — Mark (33:31)

6. How to Get Involved

• Support Mechanisms:
  Donate through the Origins Foundation website towards Project Grizzly Balance, fund specific initiatives (commission, documentary, billboards), or join as an organization or individual.
• Contribution of Local Knowledge:
  Mark seeks information and stories from people on the ground to inform ongoing management and advocacy.
  • Quote:
    "I need to hear your stories because they are a real part of grizzly bear management and sustainable use...what people's values are...the experiences you have are real and collectively that...is data." — Mark (44:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mark on the core purpose:
  "I want to balance the narrative about grizzly bears and about the role of sustainable use as a part of grizzly bear conservation because that narrative has shifted away from that." (33:31)
• On the loss of management science:
  "When hunting was banned, no research, we lost all that data. We lost having our finger on the pulse of what these grizzly bear populations were doing." (29:35)
• Host's endorsement:
  "I'm really excited about the voice that you're going to carry. It is trepidatious waters because you're going up against juggernauts. But that's not what we're afraid of." (45:49)

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:00 | Introduction of Mark Hall and Project Grizzly Balance | | 05:22 | History of the grizzly bear hunting ban in BC & Alberta | | 10:23 | Mark's motivation and origins as an advocate | | 14:12 | Decline in science and research post-ban | | 22:11 | North Cascade grizzly population management concerns | | 27:12 | Explanation of grizzly bear biology (K-selected) | | 32:10 | Current state of First Nations research/management | | 33:23 | Project Grizzly Balance objectives and advocacy strategy | | 39:40 | Social consequences; increase in human-bear conflict | | 43:44 | How listeners can get involved with Project Grizzly Balance|

Conclusion

This episode underscores the urgent need for balanced, science-driven grizzly bear conservation policy in Western Canada. Mark Hall’s "Project Grizzly Balance" champions marginalized voices, seeks to restore rigorous management, and promote meaningful coexistence—inviting hunters, conservationists, rural residents, and scientists to be part of a renewed, nuanced approach to wildlife management.

Further Information & Involvement:

• Visit the Origins Foundation website and check the Project Grizzly Balance page.
• Submit experiences or support the commission/documentary.
• Contact Mark directly via Wild Origins Canada or at mark[at]wildorigins.org