http://www.leaderpost.com/technology/Farmers+green+light+shoot+ravens+wolves/9714053/story.html
Saskatchewan farmers plagued by ravenous ravens can now shoot the animals under regulatory amendments that came into force Monday.
The new regulations will also allow residents in the rural community of Weekes to hunt wolves by the end of the summer with an appropriate licence. If wolf numbers decline in the area, wolves could eventually be designated as big game animals across the province. "It's something that farmers and members of rural municipalities have been asking for," said Environment Minister Ken Cheveldayoff.
"This is a move in the right direction."
Farmers have increasingly complained about wolves on their land and about ravens attacking young livestock - particularly calves - and chowing down on grain.
"The ravens do a lot of damage to grain bags," said David Marit, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, one of a handful of groups to lobby for the new regulations. "They will poke holes in the grain bags and it causes a lot of damage to the grain inside. And once the holes are poked, it doesn't take much for the rest of the wildlife to find that."
Under old regulations, farmers facing significant losses from ravens could request a permit from the province that would allow them to shoot the protected birds. Landowners caught killing ravens without a permit would have their hunting licences suspended for a year and be fined $500 plus $50 for every bird shot.
Merit said the regulatory changes concerning hunting of ravens and wolves will allow landowners to protect their livestock and property at a time when numbers of both animals appear to "have really gone up in the last few years."
Last year, the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation compensated farmers with $201,000 for 283 animals destroyed by wolves and $68,000 for 141 animals destroyed by ravens. In 2012 - the earliest data available - the corporation paid out $134,000 for 211 animals destroyed by wolves and $53,000 for 145 animals killed by ravens.
Ryan Brook, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan who studies the interface of wildlife and agriculture, said farmers need a way to protect their livestock from a growing number of predators, but said he's not convinced the new regulations are the way to go.
"Simply just going out and shooting animals doesn't do a whole lot in terms of actual benefits," he said. "I'm skeptical as to how successful this will be."
Brook said shooting predators should be coupled with other measures such as putting up better fences, installing more lights and investing in livestock guard animals in order to be successful.
Saskatchewan farmers plagued by ravenous ravens can now shoot the animals under regulatory amendments that came into force Monday.
The new regulations will also allow residents in the rural community of Weekes to hunt wolves by the end of the summer with an appropriate licence. If wolf numbers decline in the area, wolves could eventually be designated as big game animals across the province. "It's something that farmers and members of rural municipalities have been asking for," said Environment Minister Ken Cheveldayoff.
"This is a move in the right direction."
Farmers have increasingly complained about wolves on their land and about ravens attacking young livestock - particularly calves - and chowing down on grain.
"The ravens do a lot of damage to grain bags," said David Marit, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, one of a handful of groups to lobby for the new regulations. "They will poke holes in the grain bags and it causes a lot of damage to the grain inside. And once the holes are poked, it doesn't take much for the rest of the wildlife to find that."
Under old regulations, farmers facing significant losses from ravens could request a permit from the province that would allow them to shoot the protected birds. Landowners caught killing ravens without a permit would have their hunting licences suspended for a year and be fined $500 plus $50 for every bird shot.
Merit said the regulatory changes concerning hunting of ravens and wolves will allow landowners to protect their livestock and property at a time when numbers of both animals appear to "have really gone up in the last few years."
Last year, the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation compensated farmers with $201,000 for 283 animals destroyed by wolves and $68,000 for 141 animals destroyed by ravens. In 2012 - the earliest data available - the corporation paid out $134,000 for 211 animals destroyed by wolves and $53,000 for 145 animals killed by ravens.
Ryan Brook, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan who studies the interface of wildlife and agriculture, said farmers need a way to protect their livestock from a growing number of predators, but said he's not convinced the new regulations are the way to go.
"Simply just going out and shooting animals doesn't do a whole lot in terms of actual benefits," he said. "I'm skeptical as to how successful this will be."
Brook said shooting predators should be coupled with other measures such as putting up better fences, installing more lights and investing in livestock guard animals in order to be successful.
