Wolf and Cougar Cull on Vancouver Island Imminent!
Wildcanada.net Action Alert - 090
Friday December 6, 2002
Synopsis:
Biologists from British Columbia's Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection
will be presenting their recommendations to the Minister to "control" the wolf
and cougar populations on Vancouver Island, citing pressure on Blacktailed deer.
This is most likely to be in the form of a systematic cull of cougars and
wolves, and a contraception/sterilization program for wolves. If a cull goes
ahead this winter, 40 wolves will be killed in each of the next three years, and
the cougar hunting season will be extended to over nine months. A petition
opposing the cull was presented in the BC Legislature this week with more than
4,000 signatures, after which Joyce Murray, Minister of Water, Land and Air
Protection, stated publicly that she does not favour a predator cull. However,
she did not specifically address the contraception/sterilization option.
Take Action:
Please call, fax or write Minister Murray, supporting her opposition of the cull
and insisting that alternative solutions to a contraception or sterilization
program be pursued in the Ministry's deer recovery program. A decision will be
made in the next two weeks.
Joyce Murray, Minister of Water, Land & Air Protection
joyce.murray.mla@leg.bc.ca
Fax: 250-387-1356
Phone: 250 387-1187
Leg Ass, PO Box 9047 Stn Prov Gov
Victoria BC V8W 9E2
Be sure to include your full name and return street address in your letter or it
may be ignored.
Please forward this message to your friends. For more information please visit
http://www.raincoast.org/news/Sun_wolfcougarcull.htm> or contact Chris Genovali,
Raincoast Conservation Society, at greatbear@raincoast.org. Please send a copy
of your letter to this email address.
Background:
The ministry biologists say that they may propose a cull because of concerns
with deer recovery on the Island. The number of deer has fallen from 200,000 in
1980 to 55,000 in 2001. As prey decreases, so do its predators: cougars have
fallen from around 750 in 1995 to around 350 in 2001; wolves from around 400 in
1986 to less than 200 in 2001. The hunting lobby is driving the pressure for the
cull. Hunters kill approximately 10 per cent of the deer population on the
Island annually.
A major factor behind the decline of the deer is the loss of old growth forest,
* * *
This is a copy of what I wrote.
Please do not kill the cougars and wolves. It is not their fault the deer population has declined. If anything put more contols on logging and hunting until the natural balance has been restored.
I grew up, on Vancouver Island, with logging and hunting so do recognize the importance of these activities to humans. However I have evolved into an environmentally conscious vegetarian who prefers to love and respect animals instead of eating them. I also live with 2 wolves that were rescued from unsuitable conditions. I have found them to be extremely smart, loving creatures who care a great deal about their family members. Please don't kill part of anyone's family.
If the deer are declining and we have the technology, why can't we have captive breeding programs for them? I do not believe killing is the answer, whether it be in the form of hunting or a cull. Please find another solution. Let's try to set a better example.
Thank you
which is important habitat for Blacktail deer. 75 per cent of the Island's
productive ancient forests have been logged. More background information is
available at http://www.raincoast.org/news/Sun_wolfcougarcull.htm>.