| The uncontrolled predation
is now starting to show its impact. On Vancouver Island, the deer
population has over the last two decades been reduced from about 250,000 to
50,000. The number of predators, - wolves, bears and cougars-, relative to
the ungulates must now be quite high so that the survival rate of the young
may be only about 15% and declining each year. When it was mentioned in the
local press that the minister wanted to kill some of the wolves, the
journalists produced articles strongly opposing any wolf kill. As it was
stated: the general public would never allow this. It is completely
unacceptable to kill the wolves just to have more deers for the hunters to
shoot. No, just leave nature to itself. The result: most likely within a
decade, the deer will be gone, then the predators will be a real nuisance
before they will be gone too. The Eco-Terrorists do not think that far.
On the Vancouver Island, we also have the
island marmot. This is an endangered species. With only 33 left, and the
wolves already starving, the marmot biologist wants to have some of the
wolves killed. No, the wolf biologist is saying none of his pet animals are
to be killed!
In the interior of BC, there is an area
with a herd of mountain caribou which has been reduced substantially by
predation. The biologists are arguing that the reduction is because of
logging, habitat degradation and skiing. Although they say that predation
is not the real cause, it is now discussed to kill a few wolves, sterilize
another few, and then kill all moose in the area, because the moose
attracts the Wolf!
There are a few other islands on the west
coast where there are no predators. On these islands, hunters have always
been encouraged to hunt to control the deer population. The bag limit is
ten (10) deers compared to only one in other areas. The proof is there: no
predator control equals destruction of the ungulate population.
It is quite obvious that where wildlife
management is a political issue, the Eco-Terrorists can easily take full
control. However, if the general public was well informed, not misinformed,
it would most likely request proper management.
| The proof is there: no
predator control equals destruction of the ungulate population. It is quite
obvious that where wildlife management is a political issue, the
Eco-Terrorists can easily take full control. |
|
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