For many years the so called environmental crowd has made its living promoting emotional responses from ignorant donors. Here again they are going at it. The only use planned for the money they hope to raise is to pay their overheads and perhaps to send a nasty letter or two to a politician.
Two centuries ago, the grizzly ranged to the Mississippi
A grizzly has a reproduction rate similar to a cow or a buffalo. Wolves are even faster.
During the past forty years, deer and turkey stocks have exploded throughout all of settled North America . Very shortly, we are going to have to begin properly harvesting the surplus. Otherwise, these wonderful carnivores will be anxious to help.
The real problem is the 300 million plus primates that are wandering about. We have forgotten just how dangerous a large carnivore is. Even a friendly one thousand pound herbivore can kill you by accident. In fact we have recently watched a killer whale kill a trainer. The danger is real and basically a matter of probability.
The fact of the matter is that we have learned to create game reserves large enough to permit significant populations of large carnivores. This then gives us the problem of boundary crossing. Young grizzlies will head out looking for new ranges. So will wolves and cougars. We have to intercept them and when populations become crowded, we need to cull the population. Trophy hunting fits nicely into this ecosystem and provides coin to defray management costs.
Outside these reserves, we continue to hunt carnivores that choose to attack humans or dangerously interact with humans mercilessly. They learn easily to like our garbage and if they do eat a person, they quickly recognize an easy meal.
We do not have stories about man eating bears and wolves because we have been ruthless in applying justice. This is a rather recent happenstance. Two hundred years ago, a winter like the present one would drive starving wolves out of woodland looking for a meal. The European tales of the winter horror of been the target of a pack is only too true.
I have posted several times that carnivores must be tightly managed in order to properly manage other managed stocks. You cannot hope to run a thousand head of cattle in competition with a wolf pack. These are not animals you want in your town either. We are actually at the limits now with the penetration of towns by coyotes who are consuming raccoons and rabbits. It is extremely dangerous to a child.
Stop Trophy Hunting BC Bears
TUESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2010 GREENMUZE STAFF
With all eyes focused on British Columbia for the winter Olympics, there is a lesser-known ‘sport’ that environmental groups want the world to know about – the trophy hunting of bears.
In less than two months, the British Columbia
Each year the trophy hunt meets with opposition. This year, more than twenty-five Canadian and international conservation, First Nations, animal protection and tourism groups are calling on the government to ban the trophy hunt for ethical, cultural, conservation and economic reasons.
The move to allow hunting is controversial as trophy hunters are allowed to kill vulnerable grizzlies and black bears as they emerge from hibernation or as they feed at the rivers. Even though more than 78% of British Columbians are against the ‘sport’ hunting of bears and there is growing international opposition to the hunt, the British Columbia
"When one looks at the diversity of groups calling for action, from First Nations and wildlife viewing businesses to some of the world's leading conservation and animal welfare organisations, it is clear that the time has come to end this anachronistic blood sport." said Ian McAllister, Executive Director of BC-based Pacific Wild. "With the 2010 Olympic games in town, the eyes of the world are on BC's environmental practices, and this trophy hunt is tarnishing our reputation."
Sign the petition to end sport hunting of bears in the Great Bear Rainforest here.
Visit: http://pacificwild.org/
