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Canadian Wolf Coalition speaks with BC Environment Minister Murray Coell Dec.13th.

Fri, 12/10/2010 - 18:23 — echiax

Support our recommendations by phoning his office (250)387-1187 

or e-mail env.minister@gov.bc.ca.

December 13th, 2010 campaign spokesperson Sadie Parr met with BC’s new environment Minister Murray Coell to request that through the BC Ministry of Environment, he:
1.       Say "No" to predator control as an option for recovery of mountain caribou and stop the wolf sterilization and removal project in the Quesnel Highlands.
 
2.       Create and implement new wolf hunting regulations that are based on sound science as well as ethics and “fair chase”.  Recommendations were provided (see below).
 
3.       Create a provincial management plan for wolves where social stability of packs is considered  as well as population size in order that wolves can better contribute to their ecological role as a keystone species.
 
4.       Create a wolf advisory group made of various interests to contribute to the future management and conservation of wolves. (Including representatives from First Nations, ENGO’s, agriculture, hunting/trapping, and independent wolf biologists).
 
5.       Commit to creating and implementing a plan for prevention of wolf-livestock conflicts that includes educational workshops and resource material about husbandry practices, incentives for prevention, and continues with its compensation program.
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Recommendations for Amendments to Wolf, Canis lupus, Hunting and Trapping Regulations in British Columbia
A.      Create and implement new regulations based on sound science and fair game practices. Specificaly:
  •  Implement “fair chase” hunting methods into Wildlife Act and Hunting & Trapping Regulations through no hunting of wolves from aircraft, watercraft or terrestrial vehicles & no use of these vehicles to chase down, herd wolves before killing them.
  • No use of bait to hunt wolves. 
  • Shorten the wolf hunting season to February 28th in all regions. This eliminates hunting during the birth and raising of wolf pups. The wolf is the only predator which is allowed to be hunted during the raising of their young; bears and cougars are exempted.
  •  Regional quotas set for each WMU that limit the number of wolves that can be harvested each year through hunting or trapping. (ie. Not just bag limits of 3 wolves per person)
  • A specific game seal for hunting wolves, Canis lupus. Currently MOE considers wolves to be vermin as there is no BC resident tag for wolves so they can be shot for free. A tag or seal specific to hunting wolves should be a requirement for all BC residents as it is for non-residents.
  •   Ban the use of neck snares in trapping, as they have been banned in USA states and countries for their cruelty.
  •  Mandatory reporting of wolves hunted and trapped in all regions of BC. This would apply to BC residents and non-residents.
  •   Keep an accurate inventory of wolves in each Wildlife Management Unit (WMU).
  •   Keep records of wolf harvest data for each WMU.
  •  A harvest ban of 50km around all National Parks located in BC.  No trophy hunting in provincial parks, recreation areas, & protected areas that border national parks or are within 50km of national parks.       Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park is the absurd example where hunting is allowed in this park which is sandwiched between two National Parks.
 
B.      Create a provincial management plan for wolves. This plan must
consider the social stability of packs as well as population size in order
that wolves can better contribute to their ecological role as a keystone
species and conservation of the species is maintained in their most
natural form.
An official wolf management plan would include the following points:
 1.          1. 
                      i) accurate wolf population on a            
              provincial and regional basis
           ii) accurate wolf harvest numbers from hunting and trapping

           iii) a statement about the importance of wolves in maintaining a

               healthy, viable ecosystem

 

  1. a quota for the number of  wolves that can be harvested through hunting and trapping each year, provincially and regionally
  2. acknowledgement of the importance of the wolf to First Nation peoples and culture
  3. methods in which wolves maybe hunted and trapped (based on Fair Chase and no baiting)
  4. public transparency about areas of wolf management and research is conducted within the province
C.      Create a wolf advisory group made of various interests to contribute
to the future management and conservation of wolves. (Including
representatives from First Nations, ENGO’s, agriculture, hunting/trapping,
and independent wolf biologists)