Whitehorse Star, Jan 31/08

Proposals are based on a lust to kill

This is an open letter to Dennis Fentie: Premier and Environment Minister of the Yukon.

While you are contemplating your decision on the confidential recommendations made by the Fish and Wildlife Management Board on the Yukon Wildlife Act Revisions, please make the well-being of the wildlife your first and foremost priority.

Most of these proposals emphasize more hunting opportunities. It comes down to this: hunting organizations claim to have the right to kill who, how many, where, and why they want.

Wolves and bears continue to be treated as competition for hunters. Wolf killing season is already over-kill (August 1-March 31), and now two proposals ask for opportunities to kill more wolves. Why?

There is plenty of documentation proving the benefits of predators in an ecosystem. There is also plenty of documentation proving that human interference and manipulation of wildlife and their habitats are destructive.

The proposed regulation changes show how wildlife managers continue to manipulate wildlife for human greed without any thoughtful consideration for the wildlife and their inherent right to exist.

Wildlife management is driven by what humans want from wildlife, as opposed to what is good for wildlife. They claim hunting and managing wildlife is “science based”. Where is the science proving that we have the right to “manage wildlife” — that humans are “stewards of the land"?

Wild animals in and of themselves have the right to live out their lives as individuals, and in accordance with their natural life cycles, i.e. predator/prey, sickness/health, reproducing, and living in family groups.

In the proposals, nobody is challenging the interests of Big Game Outfitters — they appear to be protected. Special Guided Sheep Permits for
non-resident hunters—proposed by Yukon Fish and Game Association—would apply to areas “that do not fall within an outfitting concession.”

So now is YFGA getting into the Outfitting business—but being careful not to step on any toes?

The proposals brought forward are based on greed and the lust to kill.
Therefore they should not be considered if we truly "respect" wildlife, in this "Larger Than Life" Yukon.

Praise the animals.

Mike Grieco
Whitehorse YT