Your ‘Our View’ dated January 28, 2015
Is your view based on facts or a passionate ahhhh?
Survival of generations to come is based on how much animal groups learn. Keep in mind we humans are animals too.
Mountain and Woodland caribou are not to be confused with Barren Land caribou in the northern territories. Their populations are healthy.
As an example of the central B.C. Woodland and Mountain caribou, the South Selkirk BC was a herd of 46 in 2009, however due to wolf predation the herd is down to 18 animals as of March 2014. That’s just one example, there are many other herds in the same devastating situation and may be reaching possible extinction numbers.
With the exception of Alberta, Canada has done little to protect the endangered caribou populations.
Wolves breed by means of an alpha male and alpha female, as most humans know. Their reproduction litter numbers are based on the availability of food, in their hunting area. When hunting is good and productive numbers per litter are high as in 10 to 12 pups. When hunting is poor, litter sizes decline dramatically, possibly one to four.
By managing the wolf numbers, B.C. can maintain wolf and caribou healthy numbers. It’s been proven.
Some say that this wolf kill is being done to accommodate hunters and guides. It’s not. Hunters are the original conservationist and still the best. There are possible exceptions and they’re called poachers (not hunters) and are subject to criminal charges if caught.
The deer populations in so-called civilized areas are high due to a wolf kill that was shut down by environmentalists in the 1970’s. The current resident deer are now the great, great, great grandchildren to those deer that were force into residential subdivisions because of wolf pressure.
And, those who don’t learn from the past, are doomed to repeat it.
The cull will be done by professionals based on wildlife professionals past research.
Please let them do their job as they let you do yours.
Kel Phair
Sooke